my thoughts exactly

bus blogging, chapter six

2012-01-24T08:35:00.000-05:00

The regular semester is about to begin, and so the university commuter buses are up and running again. Which means that our neighborhood bus patrons will once again be seeing the Overtired and Hassled Mom Tries to Wrangle Her Unruly Children on Public Transportation Show on a daily basis. Fun, fun.

This morning, it's not going badly at all, actually. It helps that they are each glued to his or her own screen, as am I. The way I try to assuage my guilt is by remembering that riding a bus = eventual boredom (eventual as in within the first five minutes), and boredom = behavior that embarrasses me in public, and embarrassed Mama = frustration and a general bad time for all. So, DS and V.Reader it is. Thank you, technology.

This week brings other big things on the horizon. Hubby starts his long road of physical therapy this week, and I'm praying that it won't be too much for his already beaten-down spirit. It's been so tough to see him stuck on the couch, but I know how taxing it has been for him to get up and even just sit in the kitchen. His world has shrunk to the size of the living room for the last couple of weeks, and that is equal to torture to him.

And finally, perhaps this is an example of why hubby's doctor told him not to make any major decisions while on the pain meds, but he did indeed make a big one last night. The meds have been irritating his skin, especially on his face, so for the first time in at least 15 years, he touched razor to chin. I stood there watching (and spotting, just in case he lost his one-footed balance), in amazement at seeing this part of him that has been covered for most of his life.

Those first few kisses were different, I'll tell you that!

Ready for a non-adventurous month sometime soon,

goodbye nurse, hello teacher

2012-01-16T14:24:00.000-05:00

Today is the last day I get to play nurse, and tomorrow will find me back in the classroom trying to stay focused. It will be hard knowing that hubby is home alone, with no one to do all the things I've been doing for the last five days. I'm going to prep a few things ahead of time so that he'll have food, drinks, and other stuff he needs nearby, but I can't have everything at the ready. The fact of the matter is that he'll have to do some things on his own, and it's going to be tough.

I know it's important that I be at work. You know, that whole paycheck thing. But, I really wish I could continue to be home to keep caring for my husband, plain and simple. Sadly, this isn't possible, and I hope he finds an even higher level of strength over the next few days. I wonder how many times I'll be calling home tomorrow to check on him. I should probably apologize to my co-teacher now, because I know I'm going to be distracted tomorrow.

Sigh.

Wishing I could be everything for everyone,

recovery mode

2012-01-12T17:29:00.000-05:00

My lovely hubby went under the knife this morning. Well, under the arthroscopic tool, technically, I guess. A little over six weeks ago, he tore his ACL while playing basketball, and these weeks have been filled with orthopedic doctor appointments and physical therapy. He was ready for surgery today, and thanks to his relay of the information that he received from the doctor, I'm now much more knowledgeable about this type of surgery than before. It also helps that there are concise and easy to understand articles like this on the internets. There are a ton of videos, too, some too gross to watch for my taste, kind of like the series of pictures they printed of hubby's actual surgery!

Red, Pudge, and I are playing hooky today and tomorrow so I can play nurse, and so Red can "be there to comfort him," in her own dramatic-as-usual words. This morning, we shopped for some necessities, like bags of frozen peas to act as ice packs and fritos and gummi worms to act as comfort food. The kids also decided that Daddy would really like to have some flowers to help him get better, so a batch of tulips was added to the cart, too. Upon our return home, they created a banner for the recovering patient, and we cleaned up the living room, which will be his makeshift bedroom for the foreseeable future, since stairs are definitely not to be tackled for a while. Even through the great pain, he still smiled at the sight that he met when he returned home.

Now he's resting on the couch, starting the process of getting wel. Here's hoping he does it as quickly, and with as little pain as possible.

Off to do meds duty,

seven days in

2012-01-07T20:58:00.000-05:00

The new year's baby is seven days old now, and other than a return to the world of work for me, the year has been fairly uneventful so far. New Year's Eve was the perfect time to get my yearly drastic haircut, for I truly enjoy ringing in a new year newly shorn. The weather has been wacky this week, going from some seriously brisk 20s early in the week (just in time to stand on the playground at school) to the mid 60s today.

We spent today trying to appreciate this brief sneak preview of spring, for there's still a lot of winter ahead of us. Hubby wanted to go to a local lake and ride bikes with the kids, because now that Red is truly proficient on her bike, Pudge can get on the trail-a-bike attachment to his bike and everyone has a seat. Well, everyone but this bike-less and not too cycling-enthusiastic mom. But it worked out for me to be the pack mule that carried everything out to the gazebo over the lake near the middle part of the park and hold down the fort. After some riding time, the riders joined me for some lunch and general low-key family time.

It was lovely.

I'm afraid this was just the calm before the storm, though, for this week brings Hubby's knee surgery, to reconstruct an ACL in his left knee after tearing his over a month ago when playing basketball. He's been working hard doing some rehab during these weeks, and there's much more of that in his future. For him, 2012 will be the year of physical therapy and healing. Needless to say, he's not looking forward to this week.

So, mixed emotions prevail as we start this year. I'm thankful for all the wonderful aspects of our life right now, and I'm smart enough to recognize that there are too many to count. But, it's also nerve-wracking to know that some difficult times lay ahead. I'm going to try my best to do as much as I possibly can for Hubby as he recovers, but I know it won't be enough, and he'll have to deal with some hellish times. Please, 2012. Please have some good times ahead, too.

Not ready for this week,

winter break blogging, chapter twelve

2012-01-02T21:52:00.000-05:00

... in which the author tries to express her love of winter break without short circuiting her laptop's keyboard by the swell of tears streaming down her face...

This is it. The last evening before returning to what has become our real world. Today was almost anticlimactic in its purely domestic focus. The holiday decorations have all successfully found their way back into the attic, and I didn't even fall off the attic ladder or crash through the ceiling once. (Yup, it's happened, and there's photographic evidence.)

The house has been mostly put back together just as winter break is coming to a close. I've been happy that I fulfilled my winter break resolution of twelve days of blogging, and it was great to revisit some old blogging habits, too. Tomorrow morning will see a return to the early routine, and in preparation, the backpacks and lunch boxes and containers are all laid out tonight. Tomorrow's clothing has already been chosen by the kids and lies on their bedroom floors waiting to be climbed into in the early morning hours. My own work bag is packed, and I hate to admit that my eyes welled up when I pulled it out of the closet for the first time in all these days.

So, winter break has come and gone. And it was good. I reveled in the post-nap moments when Pudge stumbled over to me on the couch and snuggled his way to fully waking up. It was joyful to brush Red's hair just for fun this week, rather than doing it quickly so we could rush out the door. I even enjoyed watching some cheesy teeny-bop tv shows with JAM this week, happy that he wanted to share his world with me. Hubby even had a little bit of time off, and it was nice to see him during the middle of the day.

Friends were visited with, and a ton of yummy food was consumed. (Quite possibly at least half a ton. The baked goods gods were with us these past two weeks.) The children may have bickered more than I ever imagined was even humanly possible, but they also created some funny pretend scenarios together, and everyone got pretty comfortable playing Uno Spin, too.

Goodbye winter break. You were a blast, while you lasted. Now, it's time to put on my big girl pants and face tomorrow.

Oh, and I may be returning to work and regular life and all, but this new year is seeing one fun new addition to my online appearances. Now, if you want to read my blatherings in a different forum, you can check out the Real Moms Guide, a SheKnows site where I'll be writing short posts about motherhood and the like, hopefully making someone giggle at least once in a while. My first piece is up today, What is a Real Mom?, and the incredible thing is that there will be a new post from me every week day!

I'm ready to rock the rest of this school year, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I already have my eye looking toward Spring Break. This month looks to have its challenges ahead of us, but I'm hopeful that 2012 will bring some happiness in the mix, too.

Not happy about setting my alarm clock,

winter break blogging, chapter eleven

2012-01-01T23:56:00.000-05:00

... in which the author welcomes in the new year in a blur of melted cheese and chocolate, and unsupervised children.

I know that New Year's Eve means bar drinks, big crowds, and a crescendo-ed countdown at midnight for many folks. There are hazy memories somewhere in my head from NYE nights like this of long ago, even. But, post-children, NYE takes on a new meaning. A night out means a hefty babysitting fee, followed by regular life the morning after a wild and crazy night out. I just don't have the stamina for that kind of experience these days.

The last few NYEs have looked a little different for us. Hanging out at our best pals' house means we can let the children play in a safe environment with minimal supervision, and we can simply enjoy each other's company even later into the evening than a usual night of getting together.

Oh, that's right, there's also the booze.

Naw, don't worry, nothing crazy. We pack the back of the van to the brim with blow-up beds, blankets, and changes of clothing so we can all crash at their house. It's also less insane than trying to haul three hugely over-tired kids out of the house after midnight. It's really a win-win situation, and we're so happy our friends continue to invite us over year after year.

Last night started off with the usual friendly bantering that's often a result of hubby wearing shirts to antagonize his New England-teams-loving pal.

There was, of course, way too much food to be consumed by the six adults and six children that were there. (We won't count the baby who isn't eligible for the chocolate fountain just yet.) Chocolate fountain and cheese fondue left me smiling, even if my stomach wasn't too thrilled with me by night's end. Some of us were a little sloppier than others...

The kids entertained themselves with a little bit of Wii here, some nighttime trampoline jumping there, and a whole lot of wackiness all around, that may or may not have involved ping pong balls and plastic cups. (And too bad there wasn't a hole-in-one, for someone almost had her college tuition paid for on a bet!)

The adults chatted, played darts, and just relaxed. Hubby and I took a few pics together, with camera held at arm's length as usual, for fun. Then the camera was randomly clicked at weird angles, capturing the oddest of moments. I swear that I don't usually act this way in public.

A few of the children got a head start on their New Year's resolutions, which was nice, and they may be secretly planning their own OK Go tribute video, when they're not trying to sneak downstairs through the cat door. It also appeared that one of them began thinking longingly toward his future college extra-curricular activities.

Amazingly enough, everyone over the age of four months made it to midnight, and there was much toasting going on. After the ball dropped and sparkling juice and champagne was consumed age-appropriately, a spontaneous dance party broke out thanks to LMFAO.

Honestly, what better way to ring in a new year than hang with friends who love to laugh, and kids who are all just as crazy as one another?

Though the adults stayed up for a while more, many of the kids piled into one room to crash after the major partying evening. I believe these guys will grow up considering each other all siblings.

Well, it's another new year. Another fresh start. Another period of wondering where in the world the time is going. Here's hoping your NYE was as wild and crazy as you wanted it to be. To 2012 I say, please go gentle on us, and keep those whom we love close to us for another year of fun and laughs.

Humming Auld Lang Syne all day long,

Cybils finalists!

2012-01-01T19:16:00.000-05:00

Happy new year everyone! While we all celebrate new beginnings today, we kidlit lovers and bloggers also feel joyful on January 1st every year for the Cybils announcements get released! I've been spending my fall surrounded by the nominated titles in the fiction picture book category. Late last month, the other round one judges all got together online, and we heartily discussed the titles and our favorites among them. We fulfilled our herculean effort in that we winnowed down over 260 books to a list of seven finalists. Yup, you heard that right- just seven books.

As announced today on the Cybils site, here are the seven picture books that rose to the top. Many thanks to everyone for nominating books this year, and high fives to the folks who nominated these jewels. (And, let me assure you that having a book one has nominated be chosen as a finalist is a FABULOUS feeling. For reference, you could have seen my face when I read the list of nonfiction picture books!)

These are the seven books that we will be asking the round two judges to read, dissect, and generally live and breathe for the next few weeks, until they can select a winner. I'll be waiting anxiously for February 14th's announcement of the best of the best.

The Cybils 2011 Fiction Picture Books Finalists:

Blackout
by John Rocco
Hyperion
Nominated by: Jennifer Donovan

When all the lights in Brooklyn go out one summer night, families are suddenly not busy, much to the delight of a young child. Without power, the family can't dotheir many insular electronic tasks and have time to play games together, socialize with their neighbors and even look at the stars from the roof. With top-notch paneled illustrations and limited text, Blackout’s comic-like setup adds to the progressing action. It’s when the lights go out that the evening’s action begins, and the reader enjoys Rocco’s details of the character’s facial expressions and the community’s joint adventure on the streets and roofs of the city. Like the young boy and his family at the center of the story, one doesn’t want the evening in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge to come to end.
-- Rebecca Reid
** Read my review from 5 Minutes for Books

Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow?
by Susan A. Shea
Blue Apple Books
Nominated by: Susan Gauthier
With tongue firmly in cheek, Shea challenges young children to compare living and nonliving things through a series of silly, rhyming questions. While lifting page flaps will show a stool "growing" into a chair, series of answers in rhyming couplets reinforce the basic concept. Relationships between inanimate objects small and large are established in creative ways, subtly encouraging critical thinking when kids are too busy giggling to even notice. No doubt about it, children will joyfully answer these questions with a resounding "NO!" at each page turn.
-- Dawn Mooney
** Read my review from 5 Minutes for Books

I Had a Favorite Dress
by Boni Ashburn
Abrams for Young Readers
Nominated by: Maggie Lehrman
When a girl's favorite dress gets too small, turning it into a new top is just the beginning as this special item of clothing continues to change through seasons, styles, accidents and growth spurts. Lyrical language plays with rhyming and repeated words and reflects the voice of an inventive child. Soft watercolor tones are perfect in capturing the pinks of the dress and soft browns of the girl, while line drawing and actual stitching incorporated into the pictures add whimsical touches. While readers will relate to the life cycle of one dress, the book works on multiple layers with the themes of growing up, problem-solving, and resourcefulness served in an engaging way.
-- Pam Coughlan
** Read my review from 5 Minutes for Books

I Want My Hat Back
by Jon Klassen
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Joanna Marple
Having lost his beloved hat, a bear seeks help from a variety of other animals before finally rediscovering it. Readers may be one step ahead of the bear in finding the hat, but author remains a step ahead of the reader with a surprise ending. The reactions of the culprit and the bear display a dark, sophisticated humor. Minimalist and muted, with careful use of color to highlight what’s important, the artwork is nicely integrated with the mood and the text. The memorable book becomes a standout with its spare illustrations, dry humor and unconventional storyline.
-- Jen Robinson
** Read my review from 5 Minutes for Books

Me . . . Jane
by Patrick McDonnell
Little, Brown
Nominated by: Kerry Aradhya
A picture book biography in the truest sense, McDonnell has created an introduction to the life of primatologist Jane Goodall that keeps the K-2 audience firmly in mind. Themes of following your interests and achieving your dreams are woven into the story of Goodall's childhood spent indulging her curiosity in the natural world. Expertly combining ink, watercolor, stamps, and one perfectly placed photograph, Me…Jane is as artistically ambitious as it is heartfelt.
-- Travis Jonker
** Read my review from 5 Minutes for Books

Press Here
by Herve Tullet
Chronicle Books
Nominated by: Deb Marshall
Open the book. Start reading. Watch the children listening to this magical book. Watch the children as the book works its spell on them, mesmerizes them, compelling them to press the dots, to tilt the page, to blow on the dots, to shake the book. Observe the children as they press and tilt and blow and shake. Look into the eyes of the children. See the enchantment in their eyes. Listen as the children cry, "Again!" as you reach the end of the book. Go back to the beginning of the book. Read this whimsical book again. And again and again and again ...
-- Debbie Nance
** Read my review from 5 Minutes for Books

Princess and the Pig, The
by Jonathan Emmett
Walker Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Becky
A farmer hauling a little piglet in his cart stops for a break underneath a castle tower. Happenstance --and a very neglectful Queen--finds the piglet flying up to the tower and the newborn princess trading places with it. But no one is shocked with the switch since, "it's the sort of thing that happens all the time in books." Younger kids will enjoy the silly story and funny pictures, while plenty of references to classic fairy tales will captivate school-age kids. With a strong plot, an unexpected ending and vibrant illustrations, The Princess and the Pig is a delightful read-aloud.
-- Natalia Ortega-Brown
** Read my review from a friday's five blog post

Many advanced thanks to the round two folks listed below, and good luck choosing among these fabulous titles!

Eliza Brown, Shop Talk of Carle Museum
Camille Parker, A Curious Thing
Jonathan Kemmerer, Picture Books Review
Susan Kusel, Wizards Wireless
Kristen Remenar, Kristen Remenar

Happy new year and happy reading,

book reviews 2012

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Year five, baby! Here's where I keep track of every significant book I read all year long, meaning any books that I read for pleasure or review that is longer than a picture book. This all began way back in 2008 when I wanted to stop forgetting what books I'd read, and it continued through 2009, 2010, and 2011. Though my total number of books read significantly dropped last year (oh, hello there full-time job), I'm always going to be a reader at my core. The joy found in books is just about the best thing ever.

8. 1/21/12
The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus, Book 1) by Rick Riordan
So happy to have more time at Camp Half-Blood! I enjoyed the usual level of action and unforeseen (by the characters) action. There's definitely a formula at play with the previous series that continues with this one, but that's not to say that it's not fun to follow. At first, I felt that Jason's voice sounded a bit too similar to Percy's, but soon enough he began to stand out as a character of his own. I look forward to seeing Percy again in book two!

7. 1/16/12
Spin by Catherine McKenzie
Imagine an insider's look at Celebrity Rehab without the edits chosen by the producers. That's what you get in this novel, with a fictional starlet who appears to be a hybrid of several real-life celebrities who have gone off the deep end in a very public light. It's hard to like the protagonist, a wannabe author who agrees to go into rehab undercover to report on said starlet, but if you keep the mindset that she is truly ill, her god-awful choices aren't as simple to judge. The story is entertaining, if for no other reason than to find out how this woman going to get out of the situation she has created.

6. 1/13/12
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Never has a book had a more appropriate title. Holy cow was I blown away by this book's emotion and beauty. Selznick has done it again-- created a story that merges images and words in a way like no other. I was happy to make some connections early on in the novel, but I ultimately didn't have it all figured out in the end, which is kind of nice. I love that my 11 year old was excited to see me reading this. "You're reading Wonderstruck? Oh, Mom, it's just so good. You're going to love it!" Yup, he was right!

5. 1/11/12
The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson & the Olympians Book Five) by Rick Riordan
The action level is much higher in this fifth book, and I find it harder to read the fight scenes, since I just can't seem to form the pictures in my head very well. BUT, I know that is why my 11 year old son loved this book best of them all. I was a big fan of the depth of the character development, and I think Riordan skillfully matured these primary characters through the beginning of adolescence. More intense, but still punctured with bits of the humor and lightheartedness that have been present in the previous four. Percy, Annabeth and Grover will all hold a special place in my literary heart!

4. 1/9/12
The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson & the Olympians Book Four) by Rick Riordan
Percy and Annabeth continue to mature in this fourth PJ book, and in addition, they trust each other more than ever. They make a great partnership because of this trust, and they know each other's true selves so well they know how to fight-- and survive-- together. The cast of characters continues to grow in this one, in number and in complexity. This one was perhaps the best cliffhanger ending of them all, and it's going to be painful NOT to immediately begin book five tonight.

3. 1/7/12
The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson & the Olympians Book Three) by Rick Riordan
This was my favorite Percy Jackson so far, for the action level was higher and the relationships Percy has developed grew this time around. As Percy is getting older and experiencing more and more of the world of the gods and Titans, his story is getting more complex. Will he be the half-blood of the prophecy? While I have no doubt that he will be, I'm still a bit unsure of my other predictions at this point. I'm impressed by any writing that can engage young readers AND readers who love a good story, regardless of age.

2. 1/4/12
The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson & the Olympians Book Two) by Rick Riordan
Oh Percy, I gotta stop comparing you to my pal Harry, because you're two very different kids, and I love you both. You are headstrong but unsure of yourself, and humble but so hopeful about what might be in store for you. I love your perspective, the way you've come to just accept the new reality you're now aware of, and you're lucky to be supported by good friends. In Book 2, I was impressed with the new characters, and the plot twists may even have been more fun than Book 1.

1. 1/1/12
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & the Olympians Book One) by Rick Riordan
I could understand why JAM was such a big fan of these books after only a few pages in. Here was a character who he could understand, and I so appreciated the frank perspective of a character who has struggled with challenges that my son could understand. (I wonder if he secretly thinks his ADHD is a sign that he's a demigod...) The writing is fast-paced and realistically toned, even though the subject matter is all about bringing the gods of Greek mythology to life in modern day. Having seen the movie version before reading the book, I was surprised by just how much the movie changed the story line, and I liked the more simple aspects of the story, starting with the age of Percy himself. There were plenty of parallels with a certain boy wizard we all know and love, but that outline of the "chosen one" story line was around long before Mr. Potter, too. I think Riordan has created his own magical/real world hybrid unique enough to stand on its own. I look forward to reading the series in coming weeks.

Reading away the year,

winter break blogging, chapter ten, which just happens to be a top ten

2011-12-31T15:02:00.000-05:00

... in which the author goes five for five on a yearly tradition, indulging in her love for lists.

My love for lists is apparent to anyone who knows me, and the first year that I really began blogging, I had the grand idea to make my own version of a Top Ten list at the end of December. What began in 2007 was repeated in 2008, and so when December 2009 came around, it seemed criminal not to continue the tradition. Back in 2010, the fourth annual list was written, and today I'm compiling the list for 2011. Without further ado...

The Top Ten Things that I Liked, Laughed At, Smiled About, or Generally-Remember-in-a-Fond-Way of 2011.

10. Who am I? I'm a mom/blogger/writer/reader/teacher.
The year 2011 will be remembered mostly by me as a year of significant transition. I spent the first half of the year babysitting regularly and managing my tasks as family CEO while the coming changes loomed in the background. All summer, there was a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach whenever I thought about how drastically life was going to change. Come August, I was crying regularly and my fear of change brought upon the very first panic attack I've ever experienced. (And damn, hopefully my last, because that was a doozy, I tell ya.) How in the world does this fit on a list like this, you must be asking? Well, after four months of this new round of life back to teaching preschool, I think I've finally found some balance, and that is enough to make me smile a little, at least. I'm not living the life I want to live forever, sure. But, for now, I'm happy to say that I'm still a blogger. I'm still a book reviewer. I'm still contributing to a fabulous site of local bloggers. And, I'll even be starting a new writing gig in the new year. I'm also a pretty darn good teacher, too, if I do say so myself.

9. Well, if you want my opinion...
I don't carry any illusions of grandeur that there are masses of people out there hanging on my every word here, but 2011 saw several opportunities being presented for me to act like a big time blogger and get some products and experiences for review-- from a fabulous day at Sesame Place to a couple of DVDs and movies for watching, from a few new and fun games to play tTo a live performance or two, and even more. I love that I've made some contacts at some great PR groups, and the offers that are sent are usually so perfectly tailored to my family's interests and experiences. And, there's that whole bit about sharing my opinion, which I think I have an innate talent for...

8. A girl could get used to this kind of treatment!
I'm not sure if anyone was aware of this, because you know, I didn't make too big a deal out of it, but back in March, I took a teeny little trip by myself and had a big of an exciting experience, that may or may not have involved a peck on the cheek from a shockingly charming celebrity. (Okay, it did indeed involve that, and it was the highlight of the weekend!) As a representative for 5 Minutes for Mom, I had the thrilling experience of attending a special junket for bloggers after previewing the movie before its theatrical release. And yes, that tall, thin, and charismatic man standing next to me is the (soon-to-be single again) Russell Brand, and yes, he is the celebrity who planted one on my right cheek, causing my entire face to turn beet red and the rest of the women in the group to squeal the very same words I had uttered to him moments before. (In case you ever meet him, try telling him you think he's hilarious and see what happens...) My trip and the requisite coverage on the movie and its stars appeared in a grand total of six posts on my blog, 5M4M, and 5 Minutes for Books. The links are at the end of this first post, if you're feeling like reading about the most incredibly surreal weekend of my life.

7. The press pass makes its joyful return.
After the extreme sadness of last year, I planned early to ensure that this year's National Book Festival wouldn't get overlooked on the September calendar. And what a fabulous time it was. Though we didn't get to take advantage of the new two-day format and I opted out of any interview opportunities, we did have some fun times on Saturday listening to authors and buying a few books. Then there was the meeting of the redheads, when Red became new BFFs with Julianne Moore, and the heart-stopping moment when I was only a few feet away from Mr. Tomie dePaola himself. Oh, for the love of books, what a wonderful thing this festival is!

6. Laughter makes the hours go by.
A lovely feature of our school is that each classroom has two teachers, and this co-teaching model has so many benefits for the teachers and the students. For much of my previous stint working there, I taught with the same person, for seven years in fact, and it was a match made in educational heaven. I was quite anxious about returning to teach with someone different this year, but one thing became apparent very soon. My new co-teacher and I can laugh and laugh, and this has come in handy on a regular basis when otherwise I would want to spend any moment of downtime during the day shedding a tear or banging my head against a wall. I'm happy to sit at our respective spots during naptime and joke around about the wackiness that is our workplace!

5. A graduation, a family vacation, and an anniversary make for a very merry month of May.
My beautiful and incredibly smart stepdaughter graduated high school in Florida in late May this year, and all the stars aligned for us to take an extended, two-part vacation down there as a whole family. We were able to spend some relaxing time with her, witness the beauty of the Gulf's Emerald Coast, and enjoy the thrills of a resort that had five different pools to choose from. I was so happy to be a part of this wonderful occasion, and I did shed a tear or two when she walked out onto the grass with her graduating class.

4. Howdy, camper!
With our camping supplies steadily building over the last year and a half, we happily packed it all up for one big trip this year, even opting to be a little wild and crazy and leave a day earlier than planned. Cape Henlopen has quickly become our go-to camping place, after our dear friends have included us in their annual group camping trip two years in a row. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get called back for next year, too!) It's so easy for me to relax there, completely contrary to what I predicted before our first family camping trip in 2010. This year, we joyfully piled into our big old tent, and built fires that were so very hot, and got so dirty it took a week for our feet to be fully clean again. I honestly can't wait until it's warm enough to go in 2012!

3. He's a complete clown, and he's received plenty of training, too.
JAM was lucky enough to attend another session of the most unique summer camp our town has to offer- Circus Camp! There, he spends his days with the most awesome "counselor" around, a man who all of our children adoringly call Circus Greg. Circus Greg is the perfect adult to work with JAM- patient, understanding, and encouraging- and JAM has the utmost respect for him. Three two-week camp sessions, a few one-day mini-camps, and even a couple of parent/child circus class sessions are now under JAM's belt, and I know that these are the highlights of his year. I can't wait until Red and Pudge are old enough to attend, too, for our entire family is certainly made for the circus!

2. School days for everyone!
My return to the working world coincided (not coincidentally, of course) with the beginning of both Red and Pudge's school careers. They are both attending the school where I teach, Red in kindergarten and Pudge in his first year of preschool, and though the beginning of the year was a bit rocky for all of us, they are now both absolutely loving it. Between a curricular approach that is allowing them to learn through hands-on experiences and a whole lot of play and a fabulous social environment, these two have blossomed in their own incredible ways these last few months. Red is beginning to read and write independently, and Pudge could stand at the door of the school all day long greeting one hundred or so children by name. It's an amazing thing to be able to see them in this world throughout the day, and I'm so, so grateful for their experiences.

1. Time away, you say? We'll say okay!
This year allowed for a few more times away for hubby and me. A night out with friends here and there was nice, and during our trip to Florida, we were even offered free babysitting for a night so we could go out with hubby's daughter and her boyfriend on our thirteenth wedding anniversary. The biggest bit of time away came in July when my wonderful mother-in-law and father-in-law came to stay at our house with the three wackadoos, while hubby and I jetted off to Pennsylvania to live like college kids in a big old house filled with a bunch of other folks, several kegs and a whole lot of fun. There was swimming without anyone clinging on to me, there was hot tub sitting without anyone whining for a turn, and there was alcohol consumption without any worry of having to take care of little ones' needs. Just hanging out with hubby in a low-key environment for a few days was amazing, and we're already looking forward to this coming July when we get to do it all over again.
Okay, it's easy enough to ignore the frustrations and challenges of the year when compiling a top ten reel of highlights. Life around here is never all sunshine and rainbows, that's for sure, but it definitely feels good to reminisce on some of the happy times when the year comes to a close. May 2012 bring an abundance of joy, a wealth of laughter, a heap of peace, and a ton of love to us all!

Ready to raise a glass of champagne,

winter break blogging, chapter nine

2011-12-30T22:02:00.003-05:00

... in which the author attempts to rise above a level of sappiness when discussing the joys of friendship, and subsequently fails within the first paragraph...

Ah, friendship. When I think back to my childhood of multiple moves and schools, I remember how challenging it was to start at a new school or move into a new neighborhood and find kids to befriend. Having had a lifelong inferiority complex, everyone else was always infinitely cooler than me, and I was easily intimidated. Thankfully, I still managed to find some fabulous friends, some who I still hold dear in my heart all these years later, even though we haven't seen each other for many a year.

As an adult, I've found that making friends has been a much easier process, and it probably helps that I've grown out of any semblance of shyness that I had as a child and have been slowly morphing into my mother, whose habit of talking to anyone, anywhere always embarrassed me as a child. The friends that are a part of my life now are a varied bunch, but there's one thing that they all share: a love of laughter. For as much as my friends have listened to me cry and offered a shoulder (or a tissue, since I get kind of drippy when I cry), they have heard my annoyingly loud laugh many, many times more. A gathering of pals is always filled with laughter, and they are some of my favorite times of my life.

This morning, three friends and their kids came over, and added to the motley crew I call my own, plus one of JAM's friends who is a regular around these parts, there was a grand total of ten kids from age 3 to 11, generally wreaking havoc and having a grand time doing it. We mamas tried to stay out of said havoc as much as possible, assisted by the joy that is a series of mimosas.

While the chatting and playing was taking place, Red grabbed my camera and documented some moments, giving an idea of what she thinks is important. As a result, there were a couple pictures of the moms, a few of her friends playing, and a whole lot of her pieces of artwork on the wall. Here are some of the highlights:

Sure, it's blurry, but can't you just hear the laughter that is happening in this photo?

Red is an up-close-and-personal kind of photographer.

Art materials and small play figures entertain the 3-7 year old set.

A moment when not one person was screaming or crying. Beautiful.

To round out the day, we then had friends over for dinner, and we were happy to meet their new baby, who is almost three months old now! It felt nice to be cooking a meal for friends, and our own children were well enough behaved that we were able to just sit around and chat. Their baby is adorable, though sadly I didn't break out the camera at all to provide photographic evidence to prove that point. She even let me hold her for a while without crying too much, which is always my fear. It was fun to see our friends in their new roles as Mommy and Daddy, and they exude a happiness and peacefulness that is heartwarming to witness.

Going back to work has really taken a toll on my social life, so it was nice to try to fit in some low-key hanging out with pals during this time off. And, of course, there's still tomorrow night, which will see us hanging with some dear friends who will be once again be hosting our entire family for the evening. There will be cheese fondue AND the chocolate fountain going, so I will close out the year on a note of melted goodness.

Where would we be without all these amazing friends in our lives? Honestly, we're so damn fortunate.

Thankful for winter break socializing,

friday's five

2011-12-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

Well folks, this is it. The final round-up of Cybils-nominated picture books. In just two days, the finalists will be announced. I believe I can speak for the rest of the Round One Judges when I say we had a lovely time emailing about the nominated titles over the last couple months, and our final online chat was awesomely smooth. The shortlist of seven books that will be announced on 1/1 includes some truly terrific books that will bring many smiles to book bloggers' faces. I've been thrilled to be involved with the Cybils for a third year, and I hope you've been enjoying my short mini-reviews over the last twelve weeks!

For the final round-up, here are five books that are sweet and cute for young readers and the grown-ups in their lives.

1. Shoes for Me! by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Mike Laughead -- With feet that have outgrown her old shoes, the hippo on the cover is allowed to pick her own shoes. But, the choices are overwhelming, and she is soon struggling to find which ones are the best for her. After trying more types of shoes than I even thought existed, will she finally find the right pair? With rhymes on each page that aren't too sticky sweet, this is a cute one for young children who have their own favorite pair of shoes.

2. Bug and Bear: A Story of True Friendship by Ann Bonwill and illustrated by Layn Marlow -- Even friends get grumpy sometimes, and that's what happens in this story about the ups and downs of friendships. Bear just wants to be left alone, but Bug doesn't seem to be getting the message. When Bear says something harsh out of frustration, he soon comes to regret it. Real friends know how to say sorry, and the resolution of this one is gentle and just right for little ones.

3. I Like You the Best by Carol Thompson -- Here's another similar story, though this time both friends get a bit angry with each other. Soon enough, they both realize that they miss each other, and the way in which they reach out to each other is cute. Preschoolers are often prone to outbursts of "You're not my friend!" or "You're not invited to my birthday party!", so I think this is just the type of book for this set.

4. The Big Snuggle-Up by Brian Patten and illustrated by Nicola Bayley -- I have to admit to being surprised by this one, for my expectation was surpassed when I opened it up. The somewhat cartoonishly drawn scarecrow is outshone by the beautifully rendered wild animals who ask to come in out of the cold. I love the variety of animals, and the quiet nature of the book makes it a perfect read aloud before nap or bed time.

5. Mr. Duck Means Business by Tammi Sauer and illustrated by Jeff Mack -- Poor Mr. Duck, just looking for some peace and quiet in which to swim about leisurely. The other farm animals have different ideas one hot summer day, and he is disturbed by the splashing and jumping and noise to the point that he soon gets the message across in a loud quacking manner. But several days in a row of nothing but quiet may bring a change of opinion to Mr. Duck. Will he be able to find a good balance? (Mr. Duck, how I envy your quiet times!)

As always, all opinions expressed here are mine alone, and not representative of the other judges or the Cybils Awards. Iencourage you to watch the Cybils Awards site throughout the day on January 1 for the shortlist announcements across all categories. Okay, Round Two folks, now your job begins!

Hundreds of picture books later,

winter break blogging, chapter eight

2011-12-29T22:30:00.001-05:00

... in which the author shares a bunch of random thoughts in lieu of a real blog post. This whole "12 Days of Blogging" thing might have needed a little more planning...

Visiting with a friend was lovely this morning, and JAM was in heaven with unlimited Wii time with her son.
Lunch time actually involved conversation today, as opposed to Tuesday's which began with enforced silence. Rock on.
Red found a game on the DS in which players scream into the sensor to make glass break. Can you say most perfectly tailored game ever?
Apparently, book reviews don't write themselves, even though I've been thinking about the books for days and days. Dammit.
Guinea pigs are lovely in a classroom. In my living room, they just stink. I changed their cage this morning, and yet as I sit here typing, I can still smell their stinkiness. Dammit, dammit.
Oh, and on one more guinea pig front, why in the hell does Annette get crazy thirsty every evening when I sit down at my laptop? If I could write letters to approximate the insanely annoying sound that comes when Annette bites on that little metal ball for fifteen straight minutes, I would type them and it would be as grating to read on the computer screen as it is to hear in real life.
A good person would not remove the water bottle after ten minutes of that scritchy scratchy sound.
I am not a good person.
Christmas cookies, banana bread, and chocolate pudding pie, oh my... pants won't button. What the hell?

Tomorrow, we ring in the final Friday of break by hosting an anti-playdate. Sure, lots of Red and Pudge's friends are coming over, but there will be no planned activities other than the mimosa consumption that will be occurring among the moms. There are surely enough toys and such to keep the mass of children entertained, because we mamas like our bubbly-infused OJ and we got some chatting to do.

Ending the year on a mimosa high,

winter break blogging, chapter seven

2011-12-28T23:05:00.000-05:00

... in which the author remembers late in the day that it is the only Wednesday of winter break, and she quickly tries to recapture her days as a blogaholic...

Today involved a whole lot of excitement in the form of cleaning out cabinets and closets, pulling together items to donate, folding laundry, and scrubbing toilets. Ahh, the life of a homemaker, how I missed it. Then, late in the day, when I began to wonder what in the world I could blog about in the evening, I remembered that it was Wednesday. Back in the day, Wednesdays used to carry great meaning 'round these bloggy parts. Wednesday meant it was time for now posting regularly, my weekly public profession of adoration for National Public Radio. In the last week of winter break, I've been happily tuning in to NPR throughout the day, overjoyed to once again be listening to the workday hours programming that kept me company for my four years as a stay-at-home mom.

Since I've pushed the button on my fabulous radio bookmark a few times this week, I'm thrilled to be able to share some stories from the last week with you- ones that made me stop and listen, as NPR is so, so good at doing.

"Vatican Declares Boy's Recovery A 'Miracle'" -- Okay, let's start out with the one that has the potential to offend the most people if I really talked honestly about my opinion. This Morning Edition story had me shaking my head... the line that stood out the most to me was this: "Of course, Jake did receive the best medical treatment from expert doctors." Ahem. It's hard for me to believe that people believe in the things they believe in. I'll stop now.

"A trillion YouTube views in 2011" -- This Marketplace piece had me laughing, for I might be one of the last people on the planet to NOT ever see the YouTube video that gets the top spot for the year. And nope, I still haven't watched it, even though it's right there on the page...

"Children's and Young Adult Winter Reading" -- This entire segment of The Kojo Nnamdi show was AWESOME, even if they didn't get around to reading my emailed comment on air. KidLit lovers, if you missed this one, click and listen, for it's even got Jon Scieszka on it! (And, guess what? I spelled Jon Scieszka's name right without even looking, yippee!)

"High Rates Of Pepper Spraying In Ala. School District" -- Here's an All Things Considered story to make you wonder what in the world is going on. This is just freaking insane.

"Hospitals Move To Curb Elective Early Deliveries" -- Here's the story of the week to make me shout obscenities at my radio, care of All Things Considered. How in the world do some women still continue to be so selfish as to elect for early deliveries? Have they not read anything about the biological needs and development that still need to occur in the final weeks of pregnancy? If they think that being forced to carry to 39 weeks is inconvenient and uncomfortable, then the whole experience of MOTHERHOOD is going to be one helluva slap to the face. I'm just sayin.

"In Times Square, Saying Good Riddance To 2011" -- Whew, let's round this out with an innocuous story that most likely everyone can relate to. This All Things Considered story from earlier today had me wondering what I would get rid of, because it's been another heck of a year, that's for sure!

Well, seven days down, but I got one NPR post in, so I'm a happy blogger this week!

On the slide down the winter break mountain,

winter break blogging, chapter six

2011-12-27T21:37:00.000-05:00

... in which the author marvels at the quick passing of time, doing so in the form of complaining that half of winter break has passed already, dammit.

What in the world is happening? Time is flying by and we've officially hit the halfway mark of winter break. Let's see where we are at the end of six days:

The guinea pigs are still alive. Biggest Winter Break Fear has not come true.
To do list is much longer than I anticipated it would be by this point. Decorations need to be put away, errands need to be run, hairs need to be seriously cut, words need to be written. Gah.
The bicker-o-meter has had it's little red arrow bust right off due to the world-record-breaking performances of JAM, Red, and Pudge this week. We'll be accepting congratulations in the form of alcoholic beverages for mama starting any time now.
All the gifts have found homes, and it required very little reorganization, thankfully. There still needs to be a charity pickup scheduled at some point in the new year, which will make me happy as usual.
Gearing up for a few visits from friends in coming days, which means I'll be enforcing child labor in ways that would make Newt Gingrich smile with pride. Friends coming over means the need for clean bathrooms.
Missing the days when hubby was a school employee, too, and we enjoyed winter break as a family. I have fulfilled my role as a stay-at-home mom today, though, upon his return to work. I called his office once in the morning, effectively interrupting some important work, and then again in the afternoon to inform him it was 4 pm. He knew he missed my old habits in the last few months!
I took joy in vacuuming and folding laundry in the middle of a weekday today, reinforcing my suspicion that my college days, women's-studies-class-taking self would shake her head if she could see me now.

Six down, six to go. Boo hoo hoo.

Whining like a champ,

nightstand/ wanna review some reviews?

2011-12-27T00:30:00.000-05:00

While I'm on break, I'm going to try to indulge in as many of my former blogging habits as possible. Today just happens to be the last Tuesday of the month, so over at 5 Minutes for Books we're asking, What's On Your Nightstand? I may not keep my books on the nightstand, but I do have a shelf of current and future reads, both personal choices and books for review. Since my return to full-time work, I've cut down significantly on the number of review books I request and accept, so this list is lower than it's been in the past, but it seems to be just right for me at this point.

Other than the seven Cybils finalists in the picture book category (which I'm not revealing until after they do on January 1!), here's a look at what's on my reading shelf:

* Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood -- While I've already read this middle grade novel (for the youngish set- Amazon lists it as for ages 8 and up), I haven't yet written up my review, so it still sits on the shelf. This is a short book that presents a look at the segregated south through the eyes of an eleven year old girl, Glory, whose view of her community and the country as a whole is beginning to be expanded in light of events in her town. I'll be passing this along to JAM's reading shelf, for even though it is a bit below the level of his usual reading, I still think there's value in the story of a child his age living in the Civil Rights era.

* NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman -- I checked this out from the library again for I wanted to remind myself of one particular essay, the section on lying in childhood. When I first read this book in its entirety just about a year ago, I remember being surprised by the advice/information given. I plan to skim through a few chapters that have particular application to my parenting and teaching experiences lately, and I plan on throwing it in my amazon cart for the next purchase so I can stop keeping the library copy out of others' hands!

* Lunatics by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel -- The first thing that I read was the note at the beginning stating that though both Barry and Zweibel have written books for children, this was DEFINITELY not one of them. I'm about 1/3 of the way in to this freaking hilarious novel, and I am in fully agreement with that opening statement. The events in this book are so wholly outrageous, yet I'm picturing them all as realistically happening while I read, shaking my head in laughter and disbelief with every page turn. Damn, these guys are funny, and the two characters created couldn't be more different, which translates into chapters told in alternating voices that clearly cannot stand each other. Much laughter, and a great way to finish off a year that involved less reading overall for me.

*Edited the following morning: Guess which book up here had me laughing until after midnight until I finished it? Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel, you sirs are absurdly, hysterically funny.

The rest of the books on my shelf include a few more ARCs of titles that won't release until February, March, and April. Hopefully, some other books will fill the space between these titles and those!

If you're feeling in the mood to share what you're reading, too, head over to the December link-up post for 5M4B's What's On Your Nightstand?.

****************************************************
If you're so inclined, you can check out my reviews on 5 Minutes for Books, listed from most recent to older posts. This fall, the vast majority of my posts have been round-ups of Cybils-nominated picture books, a bit more in-depth reviews than my weekly friday's five posts. Since I last participated in the Nightstand link-up in October, I've also posted reviews on a humorous novel, a raucous memoir, a short parenting/education guide, a unique YA novel, and a few picture books and reading-related toys for kids.

Looking forward to a summer break filled with books,

winter break blogging, chapter five

2011-12-26T21:23:00.002-05:00

... in which the author blogs just for the sake of blogging, without much of anything to say...

My kids are so sweet. Just today, Pudge gave me an after-Christmas present in the form of a general malaise, an upset stomach, and a feeling of being constantly freezing. Day five of winter break has involved a bit of organizing the new toys and such, along with some general cleaning up after the Christmas Day meatloaf feast. But mostly, my butt has stayed on the couch (or a less comfortable, more... um... porcelain seat in our house) for much of the day. I've been reading (appropriate for both seats) and getting some items crossed off of my online-to-do list.

Tomorrow, hubby returns to work, and the kids and I will be home together for a week-long return to our former life. I'm hoping to feel human again, so we can potentially take advantage of the fact that many of our friends are home on break, too. If we're fever-free, can I interest anyone in a playdate? We have cookies to share, that's for sure!

Ready for bed at 9:30 pm,

winter break blogging, chapter four, Christmas Day edition

2011-12-25T23:11:00.000-05:00

... in which the author takes a few moments to tap away at the keyboard rather than clean up the disgusting pigpen her small house has become in less than 24 hours.

The day began with a quiet tap on my arm immediately followed by a hushed but confident, "It's 7:05 on our clock!" The four year old delight that is Pudge happily waited until that 6 turned into a 7, and since Red wasn't yet awake, he and JAM even humored us with an additional fifteen minute snuggle time, which allowed hubby and I to bring our total sleep time to a whopping five hours.

That's right, we were wrapping presents until the wee hours of the night (or is it of the morning? let's just say really freaking late), and we were entertaining ourselves by tuning into what could possibly be called the least appropriate television programming ever for Christmas Eve -- Comedy Central roasts. Crazy, crazy stuff. But, it helped pass the time while we pulled together gifts for the kids from us and my parents. I began to use the tape more judiciously about halfway through when I realized our supply was actually finite, and by the end of the job, my wrapping was admittedly lame and unattractive. Guess what? No one noticed in the frenzy this morning.

There wasn't much this morning in the line of questioning Red has been posing lately... the whole just-tell-me-if-he's-real-or-not type of questions. Though, the cookies were assessed as half-eaten and there was a bit of wonder at the tooth marks on the carrots. (You guinea pigs are certainly coming in handy this week!)

It was a bit of a plugged-in kind of Christmas this year, with JAM getting his own DS and the younger two getting some games for the DS that I call mine (since I got it for reviewing the 100 Classic Books software a long time ago) and the V.Reader that we call theirs (even though I also got it for review, too!), so some of our day looked like this:

In fact, at one point, all three children were on gaming thingies, hubby was on his laptop playing a game, and I was looking up recipes on our home laptop. Happy technological holidays to all.

Other highlights of our low-key Christmas day included:

Skyping with Mem and Pepe: Oh, to chat with my parents on the phone is always a fun adventure, as they each get a handset and often spend half time time talking to, or playfully bickering with, each other. Switch over to Skype and I get the added visual aspect which makes me miss them even more. Just look at them- aren't they awesome? Thank you to technology for bringing us close when we can't be together!

Our yearly bacon and cheese quiche brunch: It's only for me and hubby, and sadly this year it was not accompanied by mimosas, but it was as delicious as usual.

The changing of the guinea pigs' stinky cage: For when the cage is to be emptied, the pigs must go somewhere else. For a little bit, this included each child's lap. The reactions ranged from "YAY!" to "It's alright," to "Get this thing off of me. RIGHT NOW!"

The annual viewing of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas: Which allowed hubby and I to do dinner and kitchen-y things for 30 (mostly) uninterrupted minutes.

JAM the Chef and Frosty the Meatloaf: Hubby got JAM to make the macaroni and cheese for dinner tonight, which involved some frustration but an eventual delicious side dish, and I got creative with my ketchup dispenser on tonight's Nontraditional Holiday Meat Dish.

A plate of deliciousness: Sure, it may not look like most folks' plates for Christmas dinner, but it was incredible to me. Meatloaf, JAM's mac-n-cheese, garlicky mashed potatoes with just the right amount of lumps, green beans, corn, and Italian Herb Bread fresh from the breadmaker. And don't forget the wine. Yum, yum.

Fifty-five minutes driving slowly with every other resident of Prince George's County: We decided it would be a good idea to do what we did last year and go through the Festival of Lights at Watkins Park tonight, since it's free and all. Man, I love my kids dearly, but being enclosed in a vehicle with them for any significant amount of time makes my brain hurt. Sure, there was Christmas spirit, but it was also accompanied by some "Bah humbug"-ing from the back, incessant rambling and noises from the middle row, and a fair share of "Will you just be quiet and enjoy the lights?!" from the front. Sigh.

Glorious, glorious bedtime: Upon our return almost two hours after we left home, Christmas Day was officially over for everyone in the under-twelve division of the family. Red donned some new socks, JAM threw on a new hoodie in which to burrow himself asleep, and Pudge... well, Pudge owned his new PJs, that's for sure. "In control..."

Tomorrow will be another major cleaning day, along with my favorite holiday activity, Let's figure out where the hell all this new stuff will go. It's a grand old game, so fun to play. It's usually followed by a round of Schedule a Charity Pickup online, which is also a feel good family game. Not sure what the rest of winter break will bring, but we have officially spent another Christmas Day among our wacky selves, with smiles happening at least every once in a while. I consider that a Christmas miracle.

Happy not to be wrapping presents for the next few hours,

winter break blogging, chapter three

2011-12-24T22:01:00.000-05:00

... in which the author recognizes Christmas Eve as the inevitable time of sickness in her household, and other general preparations are made for the big day of consumeristic excess...

When hubby declared he was heading off for Costco and Wegman's this morning, I figured I wouldn't see him again for at least eight hours. The fact that he was taking 2/3 of the children with him brought a relative peace to the house, at least after the other 1/3 stopped crying about the fact that he was staying home. But, that's what happens after you run a 104 degree fever the evening before.

Yes, Merry freaking Christmas, someone is sick in our family. Well, truth be told, this morning brought a relatively better Pudge, though as a terribly lax mother, I never actually took his temperature again today. By touch, I pegged him at a low-grade 99. After all these years, I've become pretty good at getting within a half-degree on my lips to the forehead test, which is kind of a neat but useless talent. But the thing with Pudge that I've learned is, that whenever he gets even the slightest sickness, he skyrockets a fever, and then a day or two later, he's fine again. When he had his first high fever that was bordering on 105, I flipped out, called the nurse line, and was ready to dial 911 and board an ambulance to care for my 1 year old baby. After a few of these, I've learned to just watch him for signs that the fever is actually something serious, and last night it was the usual- he was simply not as hungry, he drank fine and had a generally good spirit, if a little less active. This morning, he was back to his normal self, only to sink a bit back down around 5 pm again, as I predicted. I'm hoping that Christmas morning will see him back in the full splendor that is Pudge.

Day three of winter break saw some laundry folding, some present wrapping for hubby while he was off braving the stores, some Uno game playing, some cookie making and decorating, some NORAD Santa tracking, and a wee bit of The Night Before Christmas with Robert Ingpen's incredible illustrations. (I personally love the vaguely-lush-like red nose on Santa on the cover!) Once we can be assured that the kids are close to asleep, then the Grand Wrapping Extravaganza will begin. Between the gifts that we squirreled away over the year and the gifts that we purchased the other night while a local youth sat on the babies, and with the bonus gifts purchased with money sent from the grandparents, the children will have a Christmas that shows no signs of that recession everyone's been talking about. I'm quite happy that the stuff that was acquired features some creative options alongside the screen-centered DS and V-Reader games that will be favorites. The most exciting realization? Nothing requires batteries. No beeping, booping or flashing toys. Yippee!

Now let's look at some cuties, shall we?

And, in a series of unfortunate events (i.e. me working a billion hours a week and a general shifting of priorities as of late), 2011 marked the first year in many that we did not get a holiday card sent out. We could look at it as our green contribution to the world this year, and now no one needs to feel sad to throw a picture of these adorable creatures into the trash in a week's time. If you're here reading these words, then please know that I gratefully wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Off to be less-environmentally-friendly with the wrapping paper,

winter break blogging, chapter two

2011-12-23T13:34:00.000-05:00

... in which the author realizes that pictures do, in fact, speak louder than words, partially due to the fact that a nap was being highly coveted and photos take a shorter time to upload than typing a blog post with a ridiculously high word count. Ahem.

Red showing off her latest holiday-themed dry erase board creation...

let's take a closer look, shall we?

Astute observers will notice the number of gifts marked H or HCM number 5 out of 9. Someone clearly believes she's on the "nice list." Other notable highlights of the picture, as explained by Red herself, include the gigantic Santa tree-topper holding packages, the Santa and one reindeered-sleigh which is bedazzled with blue dots to represent their MAGIC, and the window of smiling faces that features a platypus on the outside ledge. Yup, a platypus.

Annette and Frankie, posing for the camera, obviously mistaking it for food. Which they do very much enjoy getting.

About all we saw of JAM before he headed off to hang at a friend's house.

The highlight of every evening, the Lego countdown calendar. Just not sure what's with the police and jailbird theme going on... kinda odd...

The calendar is flanked by two of the beautiful holiday decorations created by my lovely hubby, perfect for the oenophile in your life. Wine bottles filled with lights, who would have thunk it?

The force was with me when I cut these two out. Thanks go to a friend who passed along the link.

Much laughter with Pudge... this is among the things I've missed the most during the last few months. Got my fill this morning, because this kid is hilarious.

Red was inspired by the recent Nutcracker performance at school, and she broke out her play dance clothes this morning. We got our own five minute performance in the living room!

Winter break, day two: lots of this. And it was good.

Off to take a shameless midday nap,

friday's five

2011-12-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

There are only two weeks left to focus on Cybils-nominated picture books, for on January 1st, the shortlist will be revealed, and the work will be in the hands of the Round Two panelists. This has been a whirlwind of fun, and I'm happy to say that I got my hands on almost 95% of the nominated titles! Thanks to the fabulous library system in my county, as well as the interlibrary loan system, I borrowed almost 160 books! I've had a blast being introduced to many fabulous books, and (more than a few) giggles over some books that inexplicably got published. Here are five more books that I've enjoyed from the nominations.

1. A Few Blocks by Cybèle Young -- An everyday, uneventful walk to school can turn into a veritable adventure when you have two children with elaborate imaginations taking the trip. When Viola's little brother Ferdie doesn't want to go to school, she entices him with beginning a fabulous game of pretend on their walk, and along the way he participates in the pretending with gusto. The illustrations in this one are "ink and watercolor on paper and cut-out assemblages," which is actually really darn cool.

2. Wiener Wolf by Jeff Crosby -- Ever long for a break from the mundane of the every day? Well, a certain little dachshund dog feels that way, and when he sees a pack of wolves on television, he feels a call of the wild. But, perhaps he didn't fully understand what he was getting into in the wild... will Wiener Wolf want to return home to his loving Granny owner? The illustrations are neat, especially of the wild wolves with details that are extremely life-like.

3. The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by Michael Chabon -- Minus the controversy that I was unaware of before reading this book, it's a cute little story of AWESOME MAN, who innocently tells his life story of having this secret identity. The illustrations are colorful and cartoonish, and the story includes vocabulary that makes me feel it's probably best for kindergarten and up. I get the feeling that in our gender-specific type of world, young boys will be drawn to the cover perhaps more than young girls.

4. I Believe in You by Marianne Richmond -- I was fully prepared for this one to be high on the cheesy factor, but I came away from it with a happy smile on my face. It's a lovely book to read with your child, and it's one that I think my daughter will especially benefit from, as she sometimes questions her abilities. Yes, this is a bit heavy on the "message," but I think it does it in a way that is still enjoyable for both parents and children. Every child could benefit from hearing these words.

5. Picture a Tree by Barbara Reid -- Here's another title that I didn't expect much from going in, but I have to tell you that I really like this one. I'm a sucker for a story about nature anyway, but this one combines unique illustrations ("Plasticine that was shaped and pressed onto illustration board... with paint for special effects"), and encourages children to be observant about the world around them as well as to use their imaginations a bit. My favorite spread features four folks standing at a bus stop, each slightly in front of a tree that matches them in a funny way-- not obvious at first glance, but cute enough to get kids to see it. Unfortunately, this one is hard to find, but I still wanted to include it in a round-up just in case someone can get their hands on it.

As always, all opinions expressed here are mine alone, and not representative of the other judges or the Cybils Awards. I hope you find some books here that will bring a smile to your kids' faces! I encourage you to check out all the other nominated titles over at the Cybils Awards, and I am having a ton of fun reading through all the books and sharing my opinions with you all!

Always happy to be surrounded by books,

winter break blogging, chapter one

2011-12-22T14:55:00.000-05:00

... in which we find the author so taken by the change of routine while on break from teaching that she decides to report on every mundane aspect of her first day home...

Winter Break. Two words that make teachers hearts flutter all across the land, with visions of consuming cups of hot chocolate in the quiet absence of the cacophony that children naturally create.

While that vision may be fine and dandy, it's not necessarily realistic for me, as I'm never really able to free myself of that cacophony, since the kids are home, too. But, there still was something nicer about my own offspring's chaos versus that of a preschool classroom this morning, and it could be partially due to the fact that I've spent the day in my pajamas. I've found that always helps.

Day one is halfway behind us, and here's the bullet-point version of my experience:

Awakened by a stiff neck and sore back somewhere in the 6 o'clock hour. Still better than the alarm clock at 5:20.
Informed all three children that today's main agenda item was to transform our house from the state that it was in (i.e. eligible for CPS workers to deem it an unfit house for children) to a house fit for human residence once again.
Cleaned living room while talking with my parents, fun multitasking at its best.
Supervised as our new temporary, furry living room residents received a feeding and snacks throughout the morning. Frankie and Annette, Red's kindergarten class guinea pigs are with us for the break, and they'll eat us out of banana peels, carrots and hay soon enough.
Sent a sulking and attitude-prone child off to clean the small bathroom, and perhaps the fumes knocked out his senses, as the attitude quickly dissipated.
Sent younger ruffians to clean bedrooms. Subsequently laughed at their versions of "perfectly cleaned and put away" declarations.
Worked with then not-sulking tween to organize items in his room, which led to the discovery of the "Let's Talk about Puberty" pamphlet I made him take from the doctor's office last summer. He started a conversation on the topic, saying that he read it. I asked if it made sense, and received the response, "Well, not really." This in turn led to a, I kid you not, 45 minute conversation as we worked. Oh, the joys... we hit several topics that would bring this blog up on Google searches I don't wish to be involved with if I identified them by name. I love that my son is seemingly getting more comfortable talking about stuff with me. As I tell him, I'm not embarrassed in the least... I'd rather be frank and up front about stuff now than be a grandparent in a few years.
Continued the cleaning downstairs while the younger two ate, and the older one went off for a special lunch with his beloved babysitter from years ago. I wasn't sure if he was going to be nervous about it all, but he had a fun time visiting with her and several of the other children she has watched over the years. She is a kind and loving woman who cared for JAM every day from his infancy until he went to preschool at three years old.
Sent children off to nap time, and I did NOT have to sit with anyone for 30 minutes to get them to fall asleep. Joy of joys.
Reveled in the joy of listening to regular old weekday NPR programming. Caught the tail end of The Diane Rehm Show and a segment of The Kojo Nnamdi Show that was perfectly suited to my children's literature loving self. Felt so friggin happy.

And now, I prepare to do what hubby and I do best, finish our holiday shopping for the kids at the very last minute. If the babysitter comes as planned tonight, we will be heading out to round out the piles, and to earn some more cash back rewards on our credit card. Fun, fun.

Winter Break, it's official. I love you.

Shamelessly unshowered-and-still-pajama-clad,

making a scene

2011-12-17T15:17:00.003-05:00

I'll be the first one to say that we adults do not have control over our children. That's often the term that is used, and it gives a misrepresentation to what I believe is a parent's responsibility. Can I control my children? Well, they're human beings who make choices of their own volition, and I cannot physically control their bodies, their vocal cords, their thoughts or actions. So, no, I cannot control my children.

That isn't what the focus should be, in my opinion. What I can do is to make my children aware of the effects of their choices, on their own lives and the experiences of those around them. To put it in the simplest terms, as I do frequently with my own children, and with the preschoolers who are left in my care five days a week, I say this: Your actions have consequences. A consequence is something that happens because of something else, like the choices you make. So, if you make good choices, you're going to experience good consequences. Being kind to your friends means they're going to want to play with you. Using the toys and materials the right way, at home and at school, means they're going to continue to be available for you to play with. If you make hurtful, mean, or rude choices, you're going to have some bad consequences coming your way. If you use toys the wrong way, like throwing them, then you won't be able to use them anymore. If you are rude to your friends, they will walk away from you and you will have no one to play with. If you do not listen to directions, you will lose the chance to be a part of things.

Simple concept, though it's admittedly sometimes difficult to put into action in certain situations. Having gone through one early childhood period with a child who was prone to pushing the limits on a regular basis, I can't tell you the number of times I've had to make an exit from an experience that I was enjoying simply because it wasn't working with my child's behavior.

I really think that as a parent I try to emphasize appropriate behavior, especially in public, with my children. Before we enter the library, I routinely give a simple reminder about "library voices" and the right way to behave. We use phrases like "couches are for sitting" or "running is for outside" when we're at home, because those are behaviors I value-- I'm not a fan of jumping on furniture (especially when 99.9% of ours is cheaply made by the Swedish do-it-yourself peddlers), and we live in a small house so running just isn't going to work without someone getting hurt or something getting broken. When we dine out, we remind the children to sit in their seats and to be aware of others around them, because we believe this is simple restaurant etiquette.

This is all a bit of background for you, so you know where my lovely hubby and I are coming from when I describe the frustrating and frankly embarrassing experience we had last night while dining out with our kids and my in-laws. We went to a local, kind of kitschy-cool restaurant/brewery for dinner. It's informal, there's a "general store" attached filled with toys, gag gifts, and beer, and the atmosphere is fun and low-key. There are always a lot of families dining there, and the atmosphere is one in which diners often know each other or make eye contact and chat informally.

So when we were dining and the booth that was perpendicular to our table contained a child who was acting in a way that we found disruptive to our dining experience, hubby tried to address it calmly and straightforwardly. The little boy was standing up on his seat and leaning a bit into our space, holding a deflating balloon animal that was alternately in his mouth or coming precariously close to bumping into my father-in-law's head. He was talking to himself, as kids are wont to do, but his constant presence in our space was directly in our line of vision and becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Figuring that his father wasn't going to say anything, hubby tried to solve the problem by going over to the booth and simply asking the woman if she'd have her son please sit down. I don't know what his exact words were, but he stood at her table side for no longer than 10 seconds.

Upon his return, he commented on the "vacant look" in her eyes, and our general impression was that our request would not be heeded. Soon enough, there was the boy again. I tried to make eye contact with him, with the intention of giving him my "teacher look," which can sometimes be effective with no verbal accompaniment, but this child was oblivious to us or anyone else around him.

Now, here's the thing-- kids ARE oblivious. I get that. But the adults who care for children have the job of helping them develop the manners and appropriate behaviors that accompany growing up. If the mom had at that point talked to him about our request and he continued to act the same way, I would have felt at least a bit respected for the attempt. And the thing is, he wasn't behaving outrageously, but we would have been more comfortable in our dining experience if he had stayed in the space of his own booth.

Given the reaction hubby had gotten from his initial request, we should have predicted that it wasn't over at that point. I kid you not, it blew up into what could only be described as a shitstorm, if you'll pardon my profanity. A short time after he had gone to the table, suddenly the woman is at our table, angrily demanding to know what the problem was. Hubby tried to explain that her son was in our space, was bumping into his dad with his balloon, and that we would like it if he would sit down. Well, it was if we were requesting the impossible. She went from zero to sixty in a heartbeat, and because of an adrenaline-fueled memory-fuzziness, I can't even tell you the exact flow of the "conversation" that followed. I know that I interrupted (because I have no filter once I get pissed), and I stated that what we were asking was not complicated or inappropriate. Her responses included statements about his age, "He's five!", our general awfulness, "You're being so rude!" "This is a family-friendly place!", and something about her having another child with a disability. (I have absolutely no idea how that was relevant.) My responses were heated, though not shouted. (Perhaps with a general raised-tone induced by incredulousness.) They included, "Yes, I know five year olds. I have one right here next to me. I teach three and four year olds. This isn't the point," and "Clearly we have vastly different behavioral expectations for our children," and "If you choose not to comply with our request, then don't." Hubby's responses were simple: "Stop." "Go sit down." "Leave us alone."

The responses in our heads, not spoken out of respect for our children's grandparents and the children themselves, could be summed up as such: "What the hell is wrong with you? Get (the BLEEP) away from us right now you (BLEEPING) crazy (BLEEP). You are obviously a (BLEEPING) nutjob."

When she would not stop, and it became obvious that half of the main floor of the restaurant's patrons were staring in our general direction, hubby stopped a hostess who was walking by and asked her if she could get this woman to leave us alone. The hostess walked the woman back to her table, and we could see her talking to her and hear the woman still ranting and raving about our unbelievable request. Our waitress came by and asked if everything was okay, and she lamented that it was not a lovely experience to be waiting on that table, either. The hostess came over to us and we briefly explained our perspective on the situation. (Briefly because it was such a frickin' simple story!) She apologized to us, and I apologized to her because 1.) That's just what I do, and 2.) I felt genuinely sorry that we had started such a crazy scene in the restaurant. I wanted to shrink under the table, but I figured that it was over. Surely the woman would finish up, take her son and head out, right?

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.

Nope, the story doesn't end there, folks, for there are still three, count 'em, THREE additional confrontations (all initiated by Crazy Mama) to go!

A few minutes later, Red and I went upstairs to the bathroom, and as we passed the host station, three people were talking about it. I asked them if I could explain what happened, and briefly (see, BRIEFLY again) did so. They apologized, and we went on our merry way. Upstairs, I stopped and jokingly told a friend of mine who works there that were were causing a ruckus downstairs and we had a little giggle which helped to slightly slow my racing heart.

In a bit, hubby took the boys into the general store, and shortly thereafter, I took Red in, too. Unbeknownst to me, the woman brought her son in there a few minutes later. I turned around and was suddenly face to face with her. Ack. "Thanks for ruining my evening. I just wanted to say thanks to you." This was directly in front of the register, and I turned to the two guys working behind it and said, "I need you to go get a manager or the owner and get this woman away from me. This is the second time she's confronting me." The guy laughed nervously, to which I responded, "I'm actually not joking. Please help me." He asked her to move away, I gathered the kids and went out the back exit, and back around to our table. At that point, I apologized to my in-laws, for the whole feel of the dinner had gone to hell for me, and I was embarrassed. I had the kids get their coats on, and I asked my mother-in-law if she would go back in the store and get the car keys from hubby, because I didn't want to go back in while he was surreptitiously purchasing a few gifts for the kids. And, of course, I just wanted to get the hell out of there. The hostess walked by again, and I told her that the woman would not leave us alone, and that we were just going to leave. I again apologized for the craziness created for them.

So, I go to the front door and then see that the woman is at the host station complaining about how "this is supposed to be a family-friendly place," and yada yada. Unfortunately, I don't have the keys, so I take the kids outside and we sit and eat our mints and chat, hoping that we'll get the keys before Crazy Mama exits, too.

Little did I know that in the interim, she had also gone up to my husband in the store and kept spewing her anger. I don't know what she said in there, but I can assume that it was more of the same. Unfortunately, she comes outside with her little boy and stops right in front of us, once again thanking me for ruining her dinner and entire night. I stood as still and stone-faced as I could while she talked for half a minute, and then I stated as firmly and low-voiced as I could, "You need to walk away from me right now. You are showing your son the absolute worst way to respond to another person's simple request. Walk away." She responded that I was, in fact, showing my children the worst example, because I simply wouldn't listen to her. And then, she again stated, "I have a child with a disability." I don't know why she continued to bring up her other child who wasn't in her company, but I responded in kind, "So do I. It doesn't give me license to act insane. Walk away from me right now, or I'm going to call the police." At that point, one of the restaurant staff members who I had spoken with earlier walked out of the restaurant, and I said with a pleading voice tinged with disbelief, "She won't leave us alone. Can you please make her leave the premises?" He put his arm out, told her to leave and walked out into the parking lot where he stood until she got to her car. I took the kids out onto the sidewalk and around the parking lot in the opposite direction to get to our van right then when JAM came out with the keys. I didn't see which car she got in, but I had a tiny bit of nervousness that she was going to wait for us to drive out and follow us. Crazy, I know.

I was shaking, not out of fear, for I didn't really think she was going to physically do anything, but out of sheer anger that I couldn't respond in the visceral, fight-or-flight way that my body was aching to do. I've never been in any physical altercation (discounting the time in elementary school when I weakly hit a boy who was calling my significantly developmentally delayed sister a "retard"), but there was a part of me that longed to ball up my fist and make that woman shut her mouth. Awful, really terrible, I know. Clearly, that's not something that I'd ever do. (Oh, that's right, I did shove and scratch some guy years ago when he was trying to attack hubby... I believe I even cut him a bit with my usually-bitten fingernails... but that was completely in physical defense!) I just wished I could make her see how ridiculous she was being by making such a freaking insane mountain out of what I perceived to be a completely appropriate molehill of a request.

One thing that sticks in my mind from the barrage of statements she threw at us and the staff is her claim that we were being intolerant. I have an issue with that word and concept in the first place, because I feel that it's often used interchangeably with the concept of respect. Should we have been expected to tolerate her child acting in the manner that he was? Well, that was an option, and we did to a certain point. And after hubby asked her to have him sit down and he popped back up, we didn't pursue it again. At that point, the decision was to tolerate it, because it was clear she wasn't on the same page as us. But really, why would we be expected to tolerate behavior that was affecting our dining experience?

Were we being disrespectful to her by requesting that her child sit down? My opinion is strong on this one- absolutely not. Any disrespect here was flowing in the opposite direction. And quite honestly, at the very beginning, I told her that she was well within her rights to disregard our request. Game over. If you think that your son is acting appropriately for this environment, then so be it. Done.

Thanks for ruining my entire evening.

Dammit, that's the one that got me the most. I have an almost pathological issue with not wanting others to dislike me. Well, to be honest, it's gotten better over the years, especially as I've had to deal with one particular ongoing bit of discord in which I know someone out there hates me with a passion, even though I'll never understand why. I'm closer to coming to terms with the fact that you can't please everyone. But, when I know that I've done nothing wrong/inappropriate/hurtful and someone still thinks I'm a douchebag, then I'm affected. And this affected me. I couldn't believe that she had the perspective that she did in the first place, and even more, I was in shock at how far she took it.

To top it all off, by the second encounter, there started to be something vaguely familiar about the woman-- her appearance, her voice, and her slight lisp-- and I have an odd feeling that we somehow have some common circle of acquaintances or local experiences. Fabulous.

So that's the long and long of our unbelievable and embarrassing dining experience last night. If you're a local pal and you hear the story from the other side, I'd love to know how it's told.

Sigh.

Still slightly shocked,

friday's five

2011-12-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! Week ten of Cybils-nominated picture books is upon us, and while I'm talking about three picture books for older children today over at 5 Minutes for Books, I'm skewing much younger for this week's friday's five. These five picture books released during the past year are cute and just right for the youngest of readers. Look for some familiar authors and characters, as well as some topics that have universal appeal for this age group.

1. Over in the Meadow illustrated by Jill McDonald and sung by Susan Reed -- You gotta already know this rhyme/song, right? Well, these patchwork-like illustrations are stinking adorable, and a multimedia experience comes with the book in the form of a CD for listening or watching on the computer. I love the colors, which would certainly make this a lovely book to sing to a baby perched on your lap. Oh, those days of reading to babies and toddlers are so much fun!

2. Love Waves by Rosemary Wells -- Earlier this fall, I had the pleasure of meeting Rosemary Wells when she visited my school, and it was a treat to hear about how she creates her immediately-recognizable illustrations. And with this release, I have a personal reason to enjoy the story, for the "mama goes to work" beginning hit close to home with our family's transition this year. It's a sweet story that young children and parents will enjoy along with a cuddle and a hug.

3. Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Sophie Blackall -- Okay, this one is probably better for preschoolers and up, but it's on that classic topic of welcoming a new baby into the family. For this child, it's been mama and her for a while, and the idea of a new "ding-dang baby" becomes just too much. I love the extended family feeling of this book, and the relationship between mom and Gia is lovely and real.

4. Road Work Ahead by Anastasia Suen and illustrated by Jannie Ho -- A trip to Grandma's involves maneuvering around a variety of different vehicles and their drivers at work on the road and around town. For a young child, the sight of a dump truck, cherry picker or mixer truck can often result in delighted squeals. I know, I've had two toddler boys! This book is colorful and cute, and the young boy on his way to Grandma's is someone little ones will surely identify with.

5. Llama Llama Home with Mama by Anna Dewdney -- Oh, little Llama and his drama... he's one book character that kids in my family can understand. This time, though, his drama's pretty justified, because he's having a sick day with mama. Yup, children can relate to that love that helps a sick day be a little more tolerable. But, parents will be feeling for Mama by the end of the story, that's for sure. It's a good thing that Llama starts feeling better quickly!

where's the line?

2011-12-15T23:38:00.000-05:00

Even though the posts have been fewer and far-er between, I still consider myself a blogger, and since my going-on-five-years of blogging has mostly revolved around family life, I even fall into that often-condescendingly-monikered "mommy blogger" status. I believe that I'm not stretching anything to say that MBs around the world frequently find themselves asking the question: Where's the line? For if we devote our blogging topics so frequently to our children, there certainly has to come a point where something becomes unbloggable.

JAM is now eleven years old, and just in the past year or so has he done various things in which he immediately directed me, "Don't put that on Facebook. Or your blog." Or, he'll ask me ahead of time, "Are you going to blog about this?" I've tried to be up front with him, before the point of hitting the publish button, and there have been things that I've wished I could have written about-- both positive and negative-- that he either explicitly requested I not, or that I personally decided simply crossed that line.

This line of "bloggability" let's call it, certainly is laid down in different places for different folks. I'm fairly certain that my line is probably farther along the continuum than others'. (I have a label named poop for crying out loud!) I'm not sure I could articulate what the bloggability line consists of, but I've just followed my gut when deciding if I should write on here, or on other sites, on things pertaining to my children.

The reason I'm pondering ye olde blogging question has to do with the recent Jimmy Kimmel clip, that I'm sure most Interwebbing/Facebooking/YouTubing people have seen by now. I saw the original piece from his show around Halloween in which he asked parents to tell their kids that they ate all their trick-or-treating candy and to film the kids' reactions. This time around, he's asked parents to do something revolving around filming their kids opening a really crappy gift, or something like that. Honestly, I haven't watched it, so I don't know for sure. I have no real desire to watch this second one because the first one made my stomach hurt.

Sure, the kids said some funny things, as kids are wont to do. You could debate the whole lying-to-your-kids versus just-playing-a-fun-gag-on-them angle. But, that's not really where it hit me the most. For me, what felt the most wrong was simply the broadcasting of the experience. For me, this crossed that bloggability line.These parents took it upon themselves to use their children's (often emotional) reactions as a way to get themselves on a late night show, or at the very least, 15 minutes of YouTube fame. Ick.

From the first set of videos that were shown around Halloween, I remember one kid who was probably close to JAM's age, and he began to cry. What pre-teen boy wants to be seen crying by one or two peers, let alone the whole damn country on a late night show, or the whole frickin world on the Interwebs?

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not one to shy away from inappropriate humor, don't get me wrong. As evidence, please reference my love for Stephen Lynch, who is comedy world Inappropriate Royalty. But, this is different. It isn't schadenfreude when it involves children, in my opinion. And I just can't get past the whole bloggability line factor... we don't own our children's experiences or images, and in this age of being able to share/post/update any- and everything, I think parents especially have a greater than ever responsibility to think carefully about what they put out there in relation to their children. These things won't go away.

I know I'm in the minority with my opinion here, and I offer it not as a 'high horse' kind of statement, but simply to explain my perspective. I'm not looking to get into a debate, for opinions are like those necessary-but-let's-not-talk-about-them body parts, and this is simply mine.

Trying to blog thoughtfully,

friday's five

2011-12-09T21:15:00.001-05:00

Can you believe this is the ninth straight week of Cybils-nominated picture books being featured on friday's five? This will make 45 mini-reviews of fiction picture book nominations here on my silly little blog, and that can be added to the 27 slightly-more-substantial mini-reviews I've done over the same period of time over on 5 Minutes for Books, and that makes a whole lot of picture book love going on! I'm planning on three more weeks of this Cybils joy, so we'll get close to 100 in no time.

1. Mine! by Shutta Crum and illustrated by Patrice Barton -- Oh, where was this book when two year old Red was playing with six month old Pudge? I don't remember a ton of the "mine!" exclamations, but I know there must have been a bit of that since these two are so close in age. Barton has perfectly captured the interactions of these two little ones in the illustrations here, and any parent who has ever placed two toddlers in the same play space will appreciate this one, while preschoolers will giggle at the ways they used to be when they were "little."

2. Red Wagon by Renata Liwska -- Lucy is a cute little fox who just wants to play with her new red wagon, not do anything even remotely resembling chores with it! But, she listens to her mom anyway and heads off to get some veggies with her wagon. The trip to the market is so filled with adventurous play, that poor little Lucy is exhausted upon her return. The juxtaposition between the words and the illustrations will be picked up by astute little readers and listeners, and the final image is one that many young children will relate to, since playing can be tough work!

3. Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat by Philip C. Stead -- I have a special place in my heart for Stead's A Sick Day for Amos McGee from last year, so I really want to LOVE this book. I'm getting there... slowly. The illustrations are beautifully rendered with muted colors and interesting collage pieces, and the cover is way enticing to young and old. The story is just a little odd, from the beginning premise of a child's stuffed animal being traded away by his parents for a toaster to the adventure he goes on in search of his beloved stuffed toy. But, lots of little ones LOVE odd stories, so I suspect this will be received positively by young kids.

4. Library Lily by Gillian Shields and illustrated by Francesca Chessa -- Pudge recently got his first ever library card after his birthday, so he has joined the rest of the crew in checking out his own books on our visits now. (Woo-hoo, we now have a family limit of 375 books!!) Both he and Red enjoyed this cute little story of Lily and Milly, two little girls with different ideas of seeing the world and having adventures. A balance between active play and reading seems to be a perfect fit for them both, and their friendship is as perfect as their rhyming names.

5. You're Finally Here by Melanie Watt -- Ready for some laughs? When we read this book together in the van after picking it up from the library, the kids were cracking up in the seat behind me as I showed them the pictures and found an enthusiastic voice to fit the excited rabbit. I love the whole "meta" thing that Watt has embraced with her Chester books and this latest. The line between picture book and real life is blurred, for the rabbit is talking to you, the reader, when you pick up this book, and what could be funnier to kids?

friday's five

2011-12-02T15:47:00.001-05:00

It's been one helluva few weeks in my working life, and now that I've approached the crest of the gigantic hill, I'm preparing for the quick descent toward the holiday break. Twelve glorious days to spend in stretchy pants hanging around the house and enjoying time with my own wacky kids, as opposed to the crew that keeps me laughing in my classroom. During our time home, I know we'll be reading even more books together than usual, and these are five more Cybils-nominated picture books that will be added to our mix.

1. What to Expect When You're Expecting Larvae: A Guide for Insect Parents (and Curious Kids) by Bridget Heos and illustrated by Stephane Jorisch -- Okay, I thought this one was going to be really cheesy from the title, but I've really grown to like this picture book that's probably best for an audience of older elementary school children. My kids and I happen to be big on bugs, so that definitely influences my opinion, but I can objectively say that it's got some great information here and the presentation is clever and humorous.

2. The Snow Blew Inn by Dian Curtis Regan -- As the weather gets colder, my kindergartener daughter Red has made the observation a few times that "it smells like snow." It will be here soon (hopefully, says this teacher who would love to be home with her kids!!), and this is a simple story that evokes a community feel during a large snowstorm. Cartoon-like illustrations will appeal to young children, and the story is a nice one to snuggle up with on a cold and snowy day.

3. The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravett -- Talk about creative and unique! This book (that's NOT about math from the note on the back cover) can be understood on multiple levels, and having been many years removed from any lessons about the Fibonacci problem, I'm pretty sure I don't get it on the highest level. But, I do love Gravett's twist here, and her pictures and the fun additions to the book (mini-books, pop-up feature, fun fun fun!) make this a truly one-of-a-kind picture book.

4. Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile by Gloria Houston and illustrated by Susan Condie Lamb -- Another book for the older set, this is a lovely true story of a woman's mobile library, created for a community that was without one. As a book lover myself, I'm happy to share this with my kids for they couldn't imagine a life without our city's public library! Here's another case where the gentle story is well-matched with the soft illustrations providing perfect depictions.

5. Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown and illustrated by John Parra -- How could I not follow the last book with this one about a library on a donkey?! I definitely plan on reading these within a day or two of each other to the kids, and I am confident that they will make the connections between the two. I love that this way naturally introduces a multicultural world perspective, for this story takes place in Colombia and talks about other mobile libraries around the world, too.

MTE reviews: A Very Furry Christmas

2011-11-27T00:16:00.001-05:00

Sunny days, sweeping the clouds away...

Sure, that's a predictable way to open a post about Sesame Street, but I just couldn't help myself. Every time I hear the phrase sunny day, the opening notes of Sesame Street's theme song begin to play in my head and I can't stop singing. Perhaps that's because Sesame Street was with me from the beginning, when my mom sat with preschooler me to watch it over thirty years ago! She insists that Sesame Street helped make me smarter during those years, and while I know it was the original in children's educational programming, my memories are all about the fun. I loved laughing and counting with the Count, giggling at Oscar's grouchiness, and getting exasperated with Ernie right alongside the neat and tidy Bert. (Yup, my allegiances were clear from a very young age.) But most of all, I adored Grover. I had a stuffed doll of that too cute blue monster, and I vividly remember moving his thin arms and legs in sync with my younger sister's physical/occupational therapist as he worked on her. Grover was my companion, and I still wonder whatever happened to that beloved doll.

Sorry, I'm back from my little stroll down memory lane to share with you our impressions of the new holiday themed celebration at Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA. A Very Furry Christmas opened on Friday, November 25, and will run for nineteen days through December 31, 2011. We were offered tickets to attend the opening day, so we loaded the kids in the car and drove the three hours to check it out, even the reluctant 11 year old, who wasn't quite sure if he'd be simply carrying a book around with him all day. Neither hubby nor I had been to the park before, so we didn't know what to expect, but we anticipated that he'd at least have fun on a few rides.

Well, I'll let the photos do the talking...

And that was just the first ride! In fact, this was round two for the boys, after Red and I sat out the second ride. Turns out that one ride on a roller coaster is all either of us had in us. (Don't scoff. It's amazing I even got on it once.) After the Vapor Trail, we walked around a bit and found ourselves right near the stage where the Sesame Street Christmas Show, one of four shows that are a part of the celebration, was about to start. We piled into the bleachers and waited for the show to begin. Can you believe that all five of us were soon singing familiar Christmas carols along with the beloved characters we were watching down on the stage?

Sure, hubby and I had to laugh at the very brief references to other winter holidays, but I don't think they're hiding anything when they call the whole event a Christmas celebration. It should be noted that this is a very secular view of Christmas, with the focus being on spending time with family and friends, giving gifts and enjoying the winter weather known to those of us who grew up in the Northeast.

After the show, we checked out the Nets 'n' Climbs area, which was perfect for our mixed-age grouping of children. While 11 year old JAM went up into the nets area with his dad for some way-up-high fun, 5 year old Red and 4 year old Pudge tried out Cookie Mountain, which they declared "AWESOME!" Also, much fun was had in Monster Maze, a pit filled with jostling punching bags. Yeah, ask JAM about how much fun this was, since he played fabulous big brother to Pudge in it for a while.

Next up was a ride on Grover's World Twirl, for I thought, yeah, a teacups-style ride will be perfect for us. This time Pudge opted out, so just JAM, Red and I went on. JAM and I convinced Red that spinning really fast is a lot of fun, and we proceeded to do so for the entire ride. Funny thing. At 36, I'm apparently too old for the teacups, for as much fun as I thought I was having, the feeling in my stomach (and the look on my face) when I got off had a different story to tell. Before I got crazy queasy in the cup adorned with Grover himself, I did enjoy looking at the mural of all the different Sesame Street characters and signs from around the world.

Don't worry, I didn't hold it against Grover. While the younger two went off to bounce to their hearts' content on Ernie's Bed Bounce, JAM and I went off to fly the friendly skies on Elmo's Cloud Chaser. The cool thing? Red soon fell in love with Elmo's version of amusement park swings, which has always been one of my favorites. Pudge watched from down below instead.

After letting the younger ones let off some steam in a soft playground area for kids five and under, soon we found it getting dark, and the holiday lights made the Sesame Neighborhood sparkle with even more magic than we imagined. No characters were on the Street while we walked through, but I did get a little sentimental while standing outside of Hooper's Store, to tell you the truth.

Funnily enough, we ran into a friend and her family from our own town three hours away while we were walking around, and after chatting for a bit, it was time to grab some grub. The park does not allow you to bring your own food in, so we were forced to pay the higher-than-usual-restaurant-prices for dinner, though they didn't scoff at us buying five kid meals. Now we're the happy owners of five souvenir Elmo plates and cups, and the hot dogs, chicken fingers, fries, pudding and jell-o hit the spot. Thankfully, you can leave the park and re-enter with a hand stamp, because without the sun shining anymore, we were all in need of the jackets that were waiting for us in the van. As we walked toward the exit, who did we happen upon along the path? Why, you are right! My furry, fuzzy friend Grover himself!

More rides for the kids and hubby followed as I watched the 1-2-3 Christmas Tree Show and listened to Jeff Davis, the VP of Operations at Sesame Place, share some info about the park and the holiday celebration. After that, there was just one more thing for us to see. It was time for the Neighborhood Street Party Christmas Parade, of course! More holiday singing followed for us, as the characters and some very, very enthusiastic young employees danced and sang down the main path of the park. There was even a sighting of the elusive Prairie Dawn, another childhood favorite of mine (if you know me, you can understand why!!) After a long afternoon of rides and laughs, this was the perfect way to cap off the day.

With the parade over, we headed for the exit and the long drive home. But wait, can we please, please have just one more ride on the Vapor Trail? Well, if you're the daddy in the bunch, you'll willingly take one for the team when the mommy declares there's no way she's getting back on that, and yet you have two little ones that want to ride with you. So, ride one went to Pudge sitting with Daddy, and JAM happily in his own car. Ride number two was to go to Red, but when she backed out at the last minute, Pudge got a second ride with Daddy and JAM was once again on his own. Thanks to the world's greatest dad!

On the way out, I couldn't help but take one last picture, for the day really was all about the blue guy for me.

All in all, our entire crew had a fabulous time at Sesame Place's A Very Furry Christmas, even the biggest of us all. The rides were enough to sustain the oldest's attention, and the younger two enjoyed seeing the characters almost as much as I did. I was reminded of the giddy feeling I had when I met Maria a few years ago at the National Book Festival, for Sesame Street has always been a part of my life. If you find yourself in the Philly area this holiday season, be sure to check out A Very Furry Christmas with your own family. You can tell Grover hi for me while you're there!

**Disclosure: I was provided complimentary admission tickets for my family to attend opening day of A Very Furry Christmas. All opinions expressed here are my own, based on my life-long love of Sesame Street and our experience in the lovely park environment.

Once a fan, always a fan,

friday's five

2011-11-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Ahhh. That sound is the collective sighs all around our nation this weekend as many of us sit back and relax during our days off from work and school. If you're at all like me and mine, days off equal more time for reading. The kids and I will be reading these fun five Cybils nominees this long weekend, because they're some fun ones, and because they need to go back to the library soon. (Man, I'm thankful for my interlibrary loan option, but they only let you have a few at a time, and when you're trying to get your hands on over 200 books at a time, you've got to have some fast turnover!)

1. Samantha on a Roll by Linda Ashman and illustrated by Christine Davenier -- Love the old-fashioned-feeling illustrations in this cute little book, for they bring to mind picture books of yesteryear with their soft colors and sketchy lines. The story made me laugh, and I anticipate the kids will giggle, too, especially considering the fact that they both tried some roller skates/roller blades this past spring and doubly declared them pretty difficult. The adventure Samantha goes on will surely bring smiles to their faces.

2. Subway Story by Julia Sarcone-Roach -- My kids have some experience with the Washington, DC, metro system, but even without that personal experience, I think this book will appeal to children for its heart and sweet anthropomorphized train car. I was surprised to see the note at the end detailing the story's basis in real life. And for kids who are used to subway rides as a regular part of their day, this story may bring them a new perspective on their travels.

3. The Fabulous Flying Machines of Alberto Santos-Dumont by Victoria Griffith and illustrated by Eva Montanari -- Who says picture books are only for the youngest of kids? I know I learned a whole lot from reading this, and I'm well past the target age! I love when authors dramatize a real life story for young readers, especially when it informs them of pieces of history that have been largely forgotten, such as the story of the first man to truly fly a self-propelled airplane.

4. Running with the Horses by Alison Lester -- Here's another example of a dramatized story of a real life event turned into an interesting, attractive and compelling picture book for young readers. During World War II, there was a rescue of stallions from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, and this lovely book brings this to life with the tale of a young girl and her father, and a horse that saves their lives just as they are trying to do the same for him. Again, this one skews above the preschool/kindergarten set that many picture books usually appeal to.

5. Aesop's Fables by Beverley Naidoo and Piet Grobler -- I'm somewhat ashamed to say that I'm not sure how familiar my kids are with the fables that have been attributed to a man called Aesop. I'm happily introducing them to many of them through this gorgeous book that makes the assertion that Aesop may very well have been African, rather than Greek like has been commonly believed. Either way, there's no denying the power in his stories, and these depictions bring his stories to life in Africa, with brightly colored illustrations that engage readers.

you can stop holding your breath, turkeys

2011-11-24T17:00:00.000-05:00

photo by Tom Curtis, courtesy of freedigitalphotos.com

Don't worry, big guy. You and your little red floppy face thingy are safe around us today. If you used to have a porky pal and you found him missing from your crew in the last few weeks, well... sorry about that. A girl's gotta eat.

Yup, that's right. Our Thanksgiving dinner doesn't involve any gobble gobble, but the ham that will be served this evening should be just as delicious. The mashed potatoes and gravy are staples, as is the apple and sausage stuffing, but other than that, our family dinner is kinda simple and basic. (Just like us.) There will be pie, and even though it's storebought this year, it'll be consumed and delighted over with all the spirit that pie-loving folks like us can conjure up.

We've spent the past few Thanksgiving holidays at home, and they've been quite lovely, if you ask me. No dressing up means that I have no shame in wearing stretchy pants at the dinner table. Four years ago, my fabulous in-laws came to us, and my superstar mother-in-law made the entire dinner for us, while I spent the vast majority of the day in one small space, alternating between nursing and changing a week-old Pudge. In the years since, we've developed some of our own Thanksgiving traditions, and my favorite is definitely our annual hike in the state park that is conveniently right down the road.

Okay, hike probably brings to mind a much more intense experience than what we really do, for the reality is that we simply stroll through the woods, tromping over wooden-planked bridges, throwing rocks in the stream, and making a general raucous that keeps all signs of wild life far, far away from the trails. For all the wackiness that follows us wherever we go, I actually find some peace when we walk together in the woods, especially on Thanksgiving Day when my mind is primed for expressions of gratitude. I purposefully go a little slower at times, so that I can linger in the back of the pack, watching as Pudge cracks everyone up with his usual silliness, or observing Red frolicking in the way that only she can, or staring in wonder at the giant big kid that JAM is becoming, or sending loving looks toward the back of hubby's towering figure. I can find some quiet in that environment, even as whatever vicinity my children inhabit is always the very opposite of quiet. The quiet that I find is more of the spiritual kind, when my own mind silences itself, and the focus simply is on the moment at hand.

I didn't take a slew of pictures, but enough to show the highlights. Behold the majestic craziness that is my family.

Gearing up for the seven minute drive down the road.

(After this one was taken, Pudge wanted to confirm that he had indeed gotten in Mommy and Daddy's picture,

Junior Photobomber that he is.)

The three amigos at the entrance to the trail.

(Please ignore the crying fit in the middle... it's just about run out of steam at this point.)

Who's that trip-trapping over my bridge?!

(Yup, I'm the awful parent who tried to scare Pudge when he peeked over the side.)

Rock. It's what's always making that funny noise in the washing machine.

The view from the back of the pack.

JAM, practicing the art of looking like an uninterested pre-adolescent.

Pudge, fiercely guarding a trail near you.

Red, striking a pose.

Our beloved stream area, home to rock skipping, mud digging, shoe drenching.

A near impossible-to-get shot of Pudge staying still.

JAM, letting a smile escape, for his true happiness is found when he's outdoors.

A close up shot of our Red and her beautiful spirit on display.

Count me among the many who are reflecting on thankfulness today, and these photos show it best for me. My husband who loves me through thick and thin (and I'm not just talking about my midsection), my children who are each making a unique mark on my life, and our quietly simple life, where the woods and a smooth rock can bring buckets of joy. Yes, I'm even thankful for the piles of laundry awaiting folding, the messy kitchen that will await me this evening, and the loads of bullet points on my various to do lists. This is my life, and I feel damn lucky to have it.

Happy Thanksgiving,

MTE reviews: Curious George Holiday Spectacular

2011-11-21T21:32:00.001-05:00

Looking for some fun family entertainment this holiday week? Look no further than your local PBS station for a mischievous little monkey doted upon by a man in a ridiculously large canary-colored hat, who just happens to be perfectly voiced by one of my very favorite comedic actors.

That's right, the fabulous family film Curious George is making its broadcast premiere on PBS stations nationwide as part of the CURIOUS GEORGE Holiday Spectacular. This couldn't be a better forum, since PBS already brings us the beloved television version of Curious George everyday!

Mark the calendar for this Wednesday, November 23rd, to see a trio of monkey movies: Curious George, Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey, and Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas.

The kids and I have seen two of these three movies before, and we're looking forward to spending some down time over the next few days when school is closed. I love that the Curious George movies are entertaining without being inappropriate for young children, and that best of all, there's a storyline without a crazy-intense and emotional conflict in the middle to get my children all freaked out like in most kids' movies. (You know I'm looking at you house o'mouse.) And who can stop themselves from singing along to the AWESOME soundtrack of the first movie, with songs performed by Jack Johnson, already a favorite CD of my kids!

So, if you've got some free time with your own kiddos coming up this Wednesday, be sure to check your local PBS listings for the showtimes in your area for the CURIOUS GEORGE Holiday Spectacular. Get your family fun on with an adorable little monkey and his wacky adventures!

**Disclosure: I was provided a kit for hosting a Curious George Holiday screening party, including a copy of the Curious George DVD and craft materials. All opinions expressed here are most definitely my own, for I've had a lifelong love for that cheeky little monkey.

Curiously yours,

friday's five

2011-11-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

The kids have gotten used to asking lately, "Are we reading a Cybils book tonight?" With our Mondays through Fridays spent at school all day, our reading at home has significantly decreased, but thankfully, our supply for our daily bedtime stories is beyond ample. I love having Red and Pudge's perspectives to call upon when I review and sort the two hundred sixty-four books that were nominated.

Here are five books that I've read either with the kids or on my own this week:

1. Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas -- My kids adore anything that makes them laugh, and Jan Thomas routinely brings out the giggles for them. She's at it again, and this time a trio of cows are really messing with a chicken and her furniture. I guess the concept of fun is subjective, but the laughs here are undeniable. Thomas' wacky looking illustrations are as good as ever, and my kids can recognize them a mile away.

2. The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Gary Rubinstein and illustrated by Mark Pett -- One might say that this book is a little too lesson-teachy, but I think there's enough value in the lesson for older picture book readers. For Beatrice, there's a level of perfection she feels compelled to uphold ever since she began winning the talent show three years ago for her impeccable juggling tricks. What will happen when things don't go perfectly? I'm a fan of the depiction of "regular" life here vs. the need to always be perfect and fawned over.

3. I Spy with My Little Eye by Edward Gibbs -- The class I Spy game meets the animal kingdom in this visually striking picture book. Children will love the cutout feature that encircles the eyes of each animal spied, and the text is simple enough for beginning readers to tackle it independently. The digitally created illustrations have incredible color, and the final page showcases a wonderfully creative picture that makes you look twice. This is the perfect kind of book for children to read again and again, and I predict they'll never tire of it.

4. Nothing Like a Puffin by Sue Soltis and illustrated by Bob Kolar -- This one is definitely funny, but it also gets kids thinking about similarities and differences in a way that they might not have before. How could a house, a pair of jeans or a newspaper be like the funny little bird that is a puffin? Trust me, the ways in which they are alike are understandable, and they'll probably make you giggle!

5. Mitchell's License by Hallie Durand and illustrated by Tony Fucile --
Okay, I'm not the biggest fan of the illustrations in this one, but the story is adorable, and one that I know young kids will enjoy the bedtime fun. Here's a dad who's willing to take a daily happening that causes resistance from his little boy and changing it into an adventurous, silly non-routine event. Perhaps after reading this one, more dads will be driving with their sons to bed each night.

bus blogging, chapter five

2011-11-17T18:03:00.001-05:00

The portion of my brain that used to constantly be writing seems to have been dulled lately. It would churn out random thoughts that I felt worthy of exploring, or it would come up with phrases that struck me as just right, forcing me to search out a sticky note. Lately, though, the portion of my brain that works on lesson plans, assessment, documentation, and educational supervision is in overdrive, pulling away mental energy from all other parts of my noggin.

But, my heart is still yearning to write out my thoughts, emotions, opinions, anything. It can be a painful thing, this unfulfilled longing. I don't really know where I want to get to... I don't want to be a novelist, for I'm not confident in my ability to be creative, to bring a story to life from scratch. I'm fairly certain I just know that someday, somehow, I want to be able to say assuredly and with a sense of the official, "I am a writer."

Someday.

Publicly transporting,

MTE reviews: Ruby's Studio

2011-11-13T18:19:00.001-05:00

With three kids of my own, and over a decade of time spent with preschoolers, I've got a good idea of what young children find entertaining, and I'm secure in my understanding of early childhood development thanks in part to my educational background and my life experiences. When those two areas intersect, you get the often-rare-to-find high quality children's programming. I'm happy to share with you my impressions of a new show that fits that bill perfectly.

Ruby's Studio carries the tag line "Social and Emotional Learning for Kids," and it's a product of a company I'm personally intrigued by- The Mother Company. Founded by two moms who long to change the way children experience screen time, they are working to bring forward appropriate materials that will engage children and offer a focus on positive social and emotional development. That, I can get behind!

I was sent a copy of Ruby's Studio: The Feelings Show to watch with my children (5 year old Red, and just-about-4 year old Pudge), and I have to say that we were pleased all around. Let's start with the host, Ruby, who acts just lovely with the four young children, engaging with them in a respectful and fun manner. She's believable in her interactions, not coming off as too cheesy or inauthentic, as some children's shows have demonstrated in the past.

The show as a whole can be described as quiet and reflective, not fast-paced, but not boring either. The slower pace allows things to be feel more meaningful, giving child viewers an opportunity to really think about what they're watching. The promotional materials that came with it used the term "old-school" to describe the show, and I think that label fits perfectly. The live-action parts of the show that focus on Ruby and the kids' interactions alternate with animated pieces, collectively offering art projects, conversations, musical selections, and interview snippets featuring other children. The transitions between pieces are quite smooth, and feel appropriately timed.

The focus on feelings for this first DVD comes at a perfect time for my own young kids' development, especially given that our family tends to have a higher-than-average emotional output on a daily basis. This topic is a familiar one to my kids, and they really enjoyed engaging with the show talking about the feelings that they know well. For an added level of experience, parents can opt to watch the episode with the "Pop-Up Parenting" feature enabled. Discreet tips will pop up throughout the show that can assist parents in extending the DVD experience with their own children.

Wanna see a snippet for yourself? Here's a little preview:

"Ruby's Studio: The Feelings Show" - Sneak Peek Trailer from The Mother Company on Vimeo.

As we get closer to the gift-giving season, I highly recommend Ruby's Studio for any young children in your life!

**Disclosure: I was provided a copy of the DVD for review purposes. All opinions expressed here are my own, based on viewing it with my own little ones.

Feeling happy to share,

friday's five

2011-11-10T22:14:00.001-05:00

The gigantic pile of Cybils Award nominated books is slowly dwindling... well, sorta... the big pile has been sorted into smaller piles... and well, yeah. There are still lots of piles. Whatever. It's a good thing we all like books around these parts.

The best part of being a Round 1 Judge is the motivation to read 200+ picture books that I may not have read before. The kids are trying to keep up with me, and here are five books that we've enjoyed in the last couple of weeks.

1. Blue Chicken by Deborah Freedman -- I love the book description on the Amazon page that calls this a "deceptively simple picture book." I have to admit that I didn't "get" the appeal at first, but upon repeated readings I've come to really love the whole meta thing that's going on, the characters' awareness that they are, in fact, characters in a picture book. The mess of some spilled blue ink makes for a funny plot line that kids really crack up at, and though the text isn't complex, the story is definitely fun to read.

2. The Twins' Blanket by Hyewon Yum-- With three kids under my roof, I am well aware of the bickering that accompany the life of siblings. I can only imagine that twins sometimes experience this bickering at a different level with their identities being so closely connected. The little girls in this beautifully illustrated book certainly do their share of bickering (can you tell this is a word that's well-used in my home vocabulary?!), but their love for each other is undeniable, too. The story of the blanket they've shared since infancy is heartwarming and just lovely.

3. Seasons by Anne Crausaz -- I happen to love this topic as fodder for kids' books, because there's something just magical about the yearly flow from one season to the next. This is one of the first cyclical patterns that young children begin to understand, and they get to experience it again and again- the joy of seeing the new buds growing on trees or the awesomeness of the first snowfall of winter. This book encourages children to explore each season with all their senses, really heightening an observation by calling to attention how things smell, look, taste, sound and feel. And, the illustrations are striking- not sure how they were created, but clearly there is some computer manipulation going on, and it looks really cool.

4. Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley and illustrated by Roberta Angaramo -- Look at that adorable little guy on the cover. Well, after reading a classic story, he's inspired to do his own shoe shopping, but he seems to be having a little trouble finding just the right kind of footwear for all of his favorite activities- running, scratching, swimming, and digging. Will the shopkeeper help him choose the right kind? Kids will giggle along with Dog as he tries out shoe after shoe, and something tells me that they will also happily predict how this one ends... though they may be surprised by the way Dog ends his day, and perhaps they'll even be inspired to tell their own follow-up story!

5. Animals Home Alone by Loes Riphagen -- Anyone who doesn't think wordless books don't tell a fabulous story needs to check this one out. Oh my, how I loved reading this with the kids. There's so much going on here, calling on children to really be observant and think critically about what has happened from one picture to the next. I love that children will pick this up and tell the story in their own words, and what a wacky story it is! This bizarre crew of animals has quite the set of adventures while the people are away, and it's pure joy to experience this book with your little ones. I'm thinking that this library copy will be here as long as possible, and at that point, I'll want to replace it with our own purchased copy!

that bird deserves some respect, people

2011-11-06T21:35:00.001-05:00

Okay, it's been a week since Halloween, right? The jack o'lanterns are rotting away, patiently awaiting their fates in trash bags or compost piles. The candy buckets and bowls are most likely emptied of the top notch Reese's peanut butter cups, Snickers and Milky Ways, while only the Mounds bars and Laffy Taffy junk is still sitting at the bottom. With Halloween past, it's pretty logical what holiday comes next, right? Well, if we look around, it seems that too often, merchants are barreling right ahead to Christmas, which personally stresses me the frick out.

But beyond my own personal stress level of work-related deadlines, reviewing deadlines, gifts that need to be accrued, and decorations that need to be hung with care, really, there's another important reason why we need to scale back on the rush to push Christmas all up in our faces.

How about Thanksgiving?! You've heard of that one, right?

I grew up in New England, you know, the capital of Autumn, and it's always been my favorite time of the year. The colors, the sounds, the smells... every year they return in full force, and I'm reminded of how Fall kicks every other season's butt. Halloween and my birthday are two biggies, but the winner of the season is most definitely Thanksgiving. Last year, I shared our nontraditional family festivities, and I'm looking forward to this year's relaxing days with my wacky family, whatever it entails.

But, the push toward Christmas seems to be getting in the way of Thanksgiving, and I'm not the only one who thinks so. I gotta say that I love the new Respect the Bird movement, sponsored by a site that I've been relying on for years for my culinary pursuits- allrecipes.com. The point of it is pretty simple: "a grassroots movement to savor the true meaning of Thanksgiving and tune out the distractions of Black Friday that have intruded upon Thanksgiving week."

How can I not stand behind this?! I love the idea of focusing on the Thanksgiving holiday for the family time, the incredible food, the idea of gratitude, everything. Christmas will come in due time, and it's a wonderful holiday but it doesn't need to take the wind out of Thanksgiving's sails to prove it.

Do you want to stand behind Thanksgiving's rightful place? If you want to join me, come take the pledge. I'm number 946!

If you're not a blogger, but you're an avid lover of Facebook, check out the Respect the Bird page to join in the fun. I owe allrecipes lots and lots of love for all the yummy (and doable for those with no cooking expertise like me!) recipes and advice over the years, and now I'm an even bigger fan for their commitment to Thanksgiving.

With nothing but respect for that delicious bird,

bus blogging, chapter four

2011-11-04T16:08:00.001-04:00

When the return to full-time work was looming ahead of me just a couple short months ago, I pondered what I was going to be able to continue doing online and what projects were going to fade away. A few things have happened in the time since then, and the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column at the Kirkus Reviews Blog was discontinued, so that one was out of my hands. Recently, I made the decision to stop writing for my town's Patch, for several reasons, but one of them was that my weekly feature was bumped down to once a month, which was actually harder to remember to keep up with. Though my contributions have significantly lessened, there's no way I want to leave 5 Minutes for Books (ever!!), and I'm happy to be a part of a recently launched site, The DC Moms.

And then there's this, my silly little blog. The place where it all began almost five years ago. I've often reflected on why I blog, especially since I originally started this seven years ago and then promptly forgot about it for two years after just a few posts. When I returned to it, I was preparing to stop working in favor of embracing the SAHM lifestyle. I think at the time this served several purposes: to help me figure out this major lifestyle change, to provide an outlet for the thoughts that suddenly had time to accrue, to be a connection to an outside world I suddenly felt significantly disconnected from, and to help me return to my first real passion in life-- expressing myself through writing.

But when I was ready to turn around on that lifestyle road, I wondered what role my blog would play in my new life, one without even small blocks of time to myself. For the most part, I can't document my Monday through Friday existence, seeing as I'm not writing an education blog, and regardless of how funny my stories may be of my wacky preschool class, I'm not risking any privacy issues by putting them out there in the blogosphere. Our family life experiences consist mostly of day-to-day routine stuff, so there's not much excitement in that... wanna hear about the joys of getting two kids out of the house before 7 am? Or of the emotional turmoil suffered by all the children during the first month of school? Life is busy and hectic, but that isn't necessarily what I want to document and look back upon someday.

Perhaps the new purpose of the blog is to remind myself that I did have thoughts independent of the work that takes up the vast majority of my waking hours. In the future, when I look back at these posts, I can be reminded of who I still strove to be when I was not working, that I was something other than my job. Maybe I don't have the time to put it all down in writing, but every once in a while, I still get the chance to pull together something that reflects my interests, my beliefs, my thoughts (exactly) from this point in my life.

When I look back, this silly little blog will be a good record of who I was, who I longed to be, and who I became. I plan on continuing it for as long as I can.

Navel-gazing once more,

friday's five

2011-11-04T06:23:00.000-04:00

Seriously, how in the world have so many cool books been published in the last twelve months that had until now gone under my radar? The kids have really enjoyed asking me on a daily basis if they can choose something from my "pile of those Cybils books." Slowly but surely, we're making our way through the gigantic piles, and it's been a blast. It appears to me that this year there are even more good candidates on the list, and I'm enjoying sharing a handful of ones that we've enjoyed each week.

1. Hurry Down to Derry Fair by Dori Chaconas and illustrated by Gillian Tyler -- Oh, the county fair. I don't think my kids have much of a concept of the county fair, for we haven't experienced anything like it together. But, with this gorgeous picture book, they can see the joy that can be found in a livestock show, petting zoo, quaint rides, and all the yummy fair food that one can eat. The last pages open up to a four-page spread that encompasses the entire fair and is simply beautiful.

2. The Ocean Story by John Seven and illustrated by Jana Christy -- The water cycle comes to life in full color in this richly told story, drawing in young children quickly and teaching them at the same time. There's a lot here, from a basic sense of the water cycle to an important message about the need to keep our oceans clean and a strong respect for all the creatures down below. My five year old daughter is a big fan of this one!

3. Back to School Tortoise by Lucy M. George and illustrated by Merel Eyckerman -- The What if's are getting to this adorable tortoise as the end of the summer approaches. Preparing to go to school can worry even the best of us, and this is a theme that young kids can certainly understand, making this a good title to pull out in late August. I do believe that kids and adults both will get a kick out of the fun ending. I know I certainly appreciated it!

4. Reading to Peanut by Leda Schubert and illustrated by Amanda Haley -- In our house, we're watching with wonder as Red is learning to read and write, sounding out words left and right, and using invented spelling to express herself in writing each and every day. So, this cute book couldn't come at a better time for us! This book perfectly captures the joy that kids experience as they learn to read and write, seeing the written word come to life around them, and suddenly being able to put their thoughts down in writing!

5. The I'm NOT SCARED Book by Todd Parr -- We all know Todd Parr, and this new offering from him lives up to all his others. Kids adore his illustrative style, which is so accessible to young artists, and his messages of connection, respect and acceptance are always welcome to parents reading with their children. This message works well with little ones, since this is a theme they will understand well.

bus blogging, chapter three

2011-11-03T15:58:00.000-04:00

Ah, the joys of working on a college campus. It's enough to make you wonder how the hell our country is going to be able to survive if these are the geniuses taking over.

Sigh.

Nah, it's not that bad, but I do spend time on a daily basis wondering how these adults got to the ripe old ages of 18 to 20-something without some basic lessons getting implanted in their brains:

It's not a good idea to walk into oncoming traffic.
One human being is not the center of the world.
When in college, one is, indeed, considered an adult.

I could devote an entire bullet-pointed list to pedestrian etiquette itself:

Seriously, it's not safe to walk in front of a bus traveling down the road. If it's already begun a turn and is halfway through an intersection, for the love of all that is holy, just wait your damn self at the curb until it passes.
When walking, it's generally considered good form to watch where you are going. Watching your smartphone/iWhatever should be secondary in your concerns.
If walking with a pal or a group in one directon, be conscious of pedestrians walking in the opposite direction. Be a decent human being and allow them some room to navigate on the sidewalk. Your conversation about your drunken Friday night pursuits can be paused for a fraction of a second until they pass.
Oh, and guess what? No one else cares about your drunken Friday night pursuits, so you can lower your voice now.
Just as with traffic, stick to your right, okay?

Sadly, even Red has commented on some of these behaviors that she has observed herself. She feels regret that some of these "college kids" didn't have anyone to teach them "how to be polite walkers."

Atta girl.

Leaving the college campus environment and heading back to the world of a thirty-something mom with three wacky charges is an interesting shift. Today was a teacher workshop day, so I'm traveling on the bus by my lonesome on my way to get the kids. I love them and I love that we still get to spend some time together each day as we commute, but I'm not going to lie. Sitting by myself on the bus ain't a bad way to make this shift today.

On the road again,

MTE reviews: Wii Play Motion

2011-10-30T19:07:00.000-04:00

Do you Wii? Four years ago, my family was pining away for a Wii, and then three years ago, our wii wiishes came to fruition. Since then, it's been used mostly by JAM, though Red and Pudge have gotten in on the action with their own "kid wii" games thanks to Sesame Street's fun games. Hubby and I haven't used it as much as we would like to, though after a recent small gathering with some pals to try out a new game, we may be playing more often than before.

Wii Play Motion features 12 games that can be played with 1-4 players, to be used with the new "plus" controllers, that somehow are more sensitive to movements. I'm not exactly sure how it all works, but I can say that I've tried all the 12 games, and the vast majority are big hits and quite fun! We had a few friends over recently to try out the games, but before everyone showed up, JAM and I took some time to try out all the games, also being so kind as to unlock some of the "advanced" levels, too. We're nothing if not accommodating.

Fun can be had bopping garden creatures on the head in Veggie Guardin', but watch out for the Miis who pop up out of the holes unexpectedly! See, fun was had by the guys!

Personally, my favorite game is Pose Mii Plus, in which you have to turn the controller in different ways to transform your Mii's position in space so you can float through odd cut-outs. Think wacky Japanese game shows, Wii-style. Here's an image of the fun game:

Yes, JAM and I have been having fun with that one! I think I need to try Spooky Search a few more times before I write it off, but so far, I haven't been able to get very far... and at the party, we all got too frustrated with the game and moved on to other ones that were a bit more exciting. The idea is cool, where you have to search the space around you to find the escaped ghosts and wrangle them back into the screen. But, none of us could master the way to capture the ghosts... but maybe a little more practice will help me out.

I'm happy to know that if we have pals over and we're looking for an fun gaming option, Wii Play Motion is good for some giggles and group fun!

**Disclosure: I was provided a copy of the game and Wii Remote Plus controllers to host a Wii Play Motion party, along with yummy goodies to serve at the party, some favors for the guests, and a copy of the game and a controller to give away to one lucky guest. All opinions expressed here are my own, based on my personal experiences with the game.

Glee over my Wii,

friday's five

2011-10-28T22:45:00.001-04:00

How has another week slipped out of my grasp? I tell you, I'm loving every second of my involvement with Cybils, as I have over the past few years, but this year it is an extra challenge to do while working full-time. I've got this huge stack of books just waiting for me to read them all, yet there's never enough time, and then there are so many I want to talk and blog about! So, pardon the late in the evening friday's five, but technically I'm making it just under the wire to share a handful of Cybils nominated picture books that the kids and/or I've had fun with this week.

1. Buglette the Messy Sleeper by Bethanie Deeney Murguia -- I really like this adorable book about a usually neat and organized little bug who turns all fidgety and wild in her sleep when she dreams about adventure. But what can happen when her movements attract the attention of the creature most feared by Buglette and her family- the big crow! Count on Buglette to save the day, no fear. I haven't read this one yet with my kids, but I predict that they'll enjoy the cute illustrations and the character of Buglette, who has to be the cutest little bug around.

2. Rain Brings Frogs: A Little Book of Hope by Maryann Cocca-Leffler -- Ever feel like your child needs a quick little lesson in gratitude and optimism? Well, this short book might be just the thing to spark that type of conversation. Each spread features a character or characters who may not be expressing the best attitude, contrasted with Nate, the most optimistic and positive little kid around. Sure, there's a little cheesy factor going on here, but with little kids, you can come on strong with an idea to help make the point, right?

3. If Rocks Could Sing: A Discovered Alphabet by Leslie McGuirk -- Okay, alphabet books are a dime a dozen, yet this is possibly the most innovative and original of any that I've seen. McGuirk combed the Florida beaches for a DECADE and has collected sea rocks that resemble every letter in the alphabet along with uniquely shaped rocks that match the words for each letter. Seriously, seriously cool. Again, I haven't shown the kids this book yet, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be buying a copy for us to keep because it's just so visually appealing!

4. King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently and Helen Oxenbury -- Oxenbury's signature illustrations bring this gentle adventure to life. Three young children's imaginations soar as they play together one day, with the images of kids engaged in true play as beautifully refreshing as can be. My five and almost-four year olds absolutely loved this book, and I think they loved the fact that pretend play is depicted in such a gorgeous manner. There's a warmth to this whole book that is quaint and just lovely.

5. A Pet for Petunia by Paul Schmid -- Oh, Petunia has an enthusiastic desire for a pet, but not just any pet out there. She's fixated on the wonderfully, amazing animal that is the skunk. They're cute and they have stripes, of which Petunia is also a huge fan. Though she begs her parents for one, they continue to tell her no, so she goes off on her own in frustration only to make a first-hand discovery... which just may alter her perspective a bit. I have to say that this felt a bit reminiscent of The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! especially in the final pages.

If you think any of these books might be fun reading for you and yours, I'm happy to have shared them with you and I encourage you to check out all the other nominated titles over at the Cybils Awards! Your trusty Round 1 Judges are working hard reading through that list with the intention of narrowing it down to the best of the best!

Forever a picture book fanatic,

nightstand/ wanna review some reviews?

2011-10-25T21:16:00.004-04:00

I could give you lots and lots of ~~excuses~~ reasons why I haven't participated in the Nightstand carnival since JULY, but blah, blah, kids, job, blah, blah. Whatever. Ironically enough, I'm putting up a post this month, even though my bookshelf resembles Old Mother Hubbard's pitiful cupboard. Well, for my own personal reading options, that is. If you're looking for picture books, well guess what? I've got those a'plenty thanks to the Cybils, and there's no nightstand that could hold them all!

This is from last week, or about fifty books ago...

Other than the 264 picture books I'm trying to get my hands on for the Cybils, my own reading has gone down significantly since my return to full-time teaching. When I'm not in the classroom or prepping materials for the class or writing lesson plans for the class or reviewing observational notes on my students or preparing developmental reports and portfolios for my students... well, I'm usually sleeping, but I'm trying to read a bit here and there. Here's what I've got right now:

* Fathermucker by Greg Olear -- I finished this one this month, and it cracked me up time and time again. I wrote up my review the other night only to have WordPress swallow it up unsaved, so that sucked. I'll be trying to regather my thoughts to resubmit the review, but let me suffice it to say this. The SAHD main character loves his kids (even when he indulges them a bit too much, in some opinions), and he loves his profanity (which may turn off some readers, but was a huge boon in the believability department for me and the folks with whom I roll). I thought it was frickin hilarious.

* Booky Wook 2: This Time It's Personal by Russell Brand -- Speaking of profanity. Whoo-boy, Russell Brand (otherwise known 'round these parts as my celebrity boyfriend after my trip to LA earlier this year and a smooch that was bestowed upon by the freakishly tall, surprisingly sexy actor) is just as funny in print as he was in person. Oddly enough, I am finding a large number of words in this memoir to be completely out of my vocabulary range, so it might not hurt to have a dictionary on-hand. This guy has had quite a life so far, and he honestly describes his quest for fame here, never denying that it's an amazing gig if you can get it, even when he finds himself less than emotionally satisfied.

* Love and Shame and Love by Peter Orner -- I don't have this book on my shelf yet, but hopefully it will be coming in soon. I requested it a while back and it doesn't release until November, so I hope the publisher hasn't forgotten about me. Honestly, I don't remember much from the pitch, but I do remember being immediately drawn to it, and if you look at the descriptions and review quotes on the Amazon listing, it sounds like many big folks are wowed by this novel. I do hope that it finds its way to my doorstep and bookshelf!

* What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver -- A good friend loaned me this book of short stories, which is perfect for the attention span I can give to reading most of the time lately. I'm not sure how I feel about his style after a few stories... kinda grim and dark and not too "love"ly, but I'm pretty sure that's the point.

So, that's what I'm kinda-sorta-when-I-can-read reading these days. How about you? We love to take a peek at your own bookshelves or nightstand piles over at 5 Minutes for Books in What's On Your Nightstand? so come on over and link up or hit us up in the comments!

****************************************************
If you're so inclined, you can check out my reviews, but since I haven't posted one of these round-ups since July, there are about twenty-five reviews and essays on there, including a couple memoirs, a few fabulous novels, some beautiful picture books, and even a bit of nonfiction. Check out my reviews here, listed from most recent to older posts.

Wishing I was reading more,

friday's five

2011-10-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Picture books are piled everywhere in my house right now, I tell you. Thanks to the Cybils Awards, I'm swimming in books. The kids and I are enjoying pulling books from the piles each night to read together, and they're excited to be able to "help" me decide which are the best of the pack. That's the beauty of the whole Cybils thing for me-- I can judge based on what I like in picture books, and I can bring the perspective of my own little ones, as well as the kids' in my preschool class, too. Fabulous!

1. The Sniffles for Bear by Bonny Becker and illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton -- Bear and Mouse are back, and this time around poor Bear is terribly sick. Who's going to help him, but Mouse, of course. But, Bear and Mouse have a kind of friendship that is sometimes fraught with drama, as Bear is a bit prone to being... dramatic. As I have children that have a few things in common with Bear, they happen to love all of these books.

2. The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett and illustrated by Poly Bernatene -- Pigmella and Priscilla, switched at a young age and living lives that they were not meant for. This is a funny fairy tale-like story, that even pokes fun at the fairy tale genre in a way that children familiar with those classic stories will definitely find amusing. Best part? The ending takes the cake. Well, for one of the two, that is. Can you guess which one gets to live happily ever after?

3. The Boy Who Cried Ninja by Alex Latimer -- We first read this one over the summer when we checked it out from the library based upon the cover that made me laugh. I have to admit that my first impression wasn't that positive... it seemed an odd tale. But, after having read it a few more times with the kids, I can't help but acknowledge how much they love this story. The illustrations are adorable, that part I've always thought, and the story is starting to grow on me. Check it out for yourself, and I'd love to hear others' impressions.

4. Hogwash by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jim McMullan -- When a farmer wants to give his pigs a bath, the pigs have other ideas. Mainly NOT taking a bath. The back and forth between the pigs and the farmer are reminiscent of the Doreen Cronin books with the beloved Duck character, and the humor is cute and appealing to young children. The ending is a happy surprise, and kids should get a good chuckle.

5. Fall Mixed Up by Bob Raczka and illustrated by Chad Cameron -- Ready for some silliness? Every page of this story has a few things that are definitely mixed up, and this is a fun book to read now, as we ease into the heart of Fall. This book is great for reading one on one, making it easier to pause the story at times to talk about the things that are wackily mixed up. I haven't read this with my own kids just yet, but I predict that there will be lots of laughs and shouts of "No!!" when we do, and it will be fun for them to figure out all the silly mix ups.

Hope you find some enjoyment out of these books, and if you're so inclined check out all the other nominated titles over at the Cybils Awards! Round 1 Judges across all the categories are reading away like crazy these days, and we're loving every minute of it!

Always ready for a good picture book,

balance

2011-10-17T23:07:00.000-04:00

I always feared climbing onto the balance beam in gym class. It took so much concentration just to get up there in the first place, let alone the process of moving from one end to the other. Fear would shake my legs, and I couldn't help but look down, suddenly seeing the few feet to the ground as a deep pit that was going to pull me down, breaking every bone in my body.

Life kinda seems like that balance beam right about now. It's been a huge challenge just climbing up onto the balance beam, and now that I'm up there, it's not even close to easy trying to move across. Whenever I look down, I'm crippled by fear, and those fears become magnified, bringing my emotions to the extreme. Busy feels like a level of nonstop going-going-going like none I've ever experienced before, and the tunnel seems so long that there's no light shining ahead.

But. Even with my complete and utter lack of any physical coordination, I never fell off that balance beam. Well, not at least too hard. Okay, I did fall off it, more than once, but I never got seriously hurt, just a bit embarrassed, really. I made it through the hell that was junior high and high school gym classes, and somehow I got past that stage of life and onto bigger and better things.

I predict that I'm going to fall once or twice throughout this new stage. Probably more than that, even. Odds are I won't pass through without a few bumps and bruises, but hopefully that will be the extent of the injuries. Just like then, it feels like this part of life won't ever pass, but someday, the kids will be grown, and maybe, just maybe, work will someday not feel like work.

I'm up there, wobbly legs and all, trying to make my way across without a glance down.

Striving for balance,

friday's five

2011-10-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

Hey, what's this? A blog post of one of my favorite old features? Wowee zowee, I'm trying to make time for friday's five since it is once again the lovely time of year known as the Cybils Awards season!

I'm thrilled to be able to say that I'm in my third year of affiliation with the Cybils, and once again, I'm working with an amazing team in the Fiction Picture Book category. This little button here proudly proclaims my extreme happiness at the prospect of spending the next two months reading a couple hundred picture books to decide which ones should be sent along to the final judges. Woo-hoo!

Here are five nominated books that I've enjoyed this week:

1. Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Matthew Cordell -- You know what I love the most about this book? It's a cute little book, sure, and it's one of those mama and child sweet little stories. But you know what really makes it stand out for me? The message that the child can go out, away from his mama, to have some wonderful experiences on his own, and that he can still feel welcomed home afterward! It's like the beginnings of a Free-Range childhood for this little froggy.

2. Pig Kahuna by Jennifer Sattler -- Interestingly enough, here's a few more free-range kids out having an adventure. Well, sort of. They're both a little nervous, until Dave enters their life. Dave, you see, is a special something that has floated onto the shore that the brothers Fergus and Dink are not quite certain about. When they discover what Dave is really good for, their whole world expands and new adventures abound. And honestly, the illustrations are stinking adorable.

3. Job Site by Nathan Clement -- When the Boss gives a direction, the trucks and workers get the job done. If you've got a construction lover in your midst, this one will surely appeal for its brightly colored vehicles and construction flair. The illustration style is different, and it's not my favorite, to tell the truth, but I think that the computer-rendered pictures will still be attractive to kids who are already gung-ho about the topic.

4. Dot by Patricia Intriago -- Oh, I really like this clever little book. I do have to admit that I wish it didn't come out at the same time as Press Here. If we don't do a comparison, then this one really shines, for its creativity, and regardless of a comparison or not, I think this one is going to be giggled at plenty by children for a while. I personally love the fact that the text is short enough that my just-learning-to-read kindergartener can decode many of the words independently, and still have a fun reading experience that is entertaining. Really, this is a cute one.

5. Follow Me by Tricia Tusa -- Beautiful. Imaginative. Soft. Lovely. These all accurately describe this gentle story that takes place simply in one child's head, incorporating colors and mood into a darling gem of a bedtime story. I think the biggest appeal this book will have is during a read aloud time between a parent and one or two children, snuggled up together for a quiet book time. Really, it's just beautiful, imaginative, soft and lovely.

Check these out for yourselves, if you're of the picture book loving type like me. And, if you've got a kids' book from this year that you loved, guess what? The Cybils Awards nominations are still open through tomorrow! Get in on the nominations before the end of Saturday, 10/15!

Surrounded by picture books,

now, that's just inappropriate

2011-10-11T22:13:00.001-04:00

Lately, I've had more than a few moments in which I got lost in my own head for a couple minutes as I imagined what would happen if I suddenly, without warning simply acted completely inappropriately for the moment. If my life were a sitcom, the inappropriate action would appear to be what was really happening, until the blurry fade out that kicks back to me, shaking my head and coming out of my reverie.

You ever sit in a meeting at work and imagine shouting out the actual things going on in your head, all Tourette style? Really speak your mind, even if it is absolutely going to cost you your job, or even if it has nothing at all to do with the topic at hand? Ever think about voicing your honest opinion to someone in a position of power, without blinking an eye? Anyone?

Nah, me neither.

Imaginatively yours,

a festival for the rest of us (book lovers)

2011-10-08T00:21:00.000-04:00

It's been two weeks since my favorite Saturday of the year- the National Book Festival. Oh, what a day it was. When we checked the forecast on Friday evening, it showed significant rain all day, so hubby and I decided it would be best to not bring the whole crew down for the day. JAM, however, said he was dedicated enough to stand around in the rain with me, and I found myself loving him even more than ever. He and I might even get seats for some talks if the rain kept some less dedicated book lovers than us at home.

Then, Saturday morning's forecast was quite different, and while the clouds weren't expected to clear away completely, they were most likely not going to open up on the Washington bibliophilic crowds. Suddenly, we were back on for a full family trip to the book festival. And, did I say this already? What a day it was.

While I was still checking in as "Press" and getting to wear the totally nifty pass, I declined the opportunity to conduct any interviews this year. Not because I didn't want to chat with some of the incredible authors who were going to be present, but because I knew I wouldn't be able to give the attention necessary to the whole process. Ah well, maybe next time.

And on that note, when I checked in at the Media Tent, I was happy to see my contact for the last few years there, and I happily donned my Press Pass. Then, another representative from the PR group told me that Jennifer Egan was standing "right over there" and was able to do an interview right now. You know, Jennifer Egan, the winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Holy crap, the guy was going to walk over and grab her right at that moment, and I had to stop him from doing that because... I've never read any of Egan's books, and I couldn't possibly interview her without being the slightest bit familiar with her work. Yeah, not my highest moment.

Then we were off to spend our day experiencing the festival. I did not approach the festival in the way I've done it in the past, in that we did not have a minute-by-minute schedule charted out. There were a few folks I really wanted to see talk, but I really just wanted to walk around and see what we could see.

Our first stop was going to be the Children's Tent, because I had a curiosity about Julianne Moore's talk. See, I'm generally not a fan of celebrities being given children's book deals, but the character of her picture books, Freckleface Strawberry, had me interested... you know, if you've ever seen a pic of the girl with the online moniker Red, you'd understand why. So we headed over to the tent, and I saw Julianne Moore herself standing off to the side of the tent a bit behind the stage, and I made a in-the-moment decision right then and there to shamelessly use my daughter to meet a movie star.

Yup, I asked Red to come over and stand nearby, and I pointed out JM, saying that she was going to talk about her books about a little girl with red hair and lots of freckles, just like her. My plan only took a few minutes to work, because Red's hair must have set off a Redhead Radar in the beautiful JM, for she immediately took notice of my darling daughter, and the official NBF camera crew was right behind her. The pictures from this year's festival are not yet up on the site, but thankfully, my own camera crew (aka lovely hubby) was at the ready.

I'm happy to report that not only is Julianne Moore an incredible actress, she's naturally beautiful, and she's quite gracious and lovely. Her talk about her books, which also included some clearly informed opinions about reading and children's literature. My surprise at her ability to be there as an actual author and not as an accomplished actress prompted my musings over at 5 Minutes for Books in an essay, On Reading: Revisiting My Take on Celebrity Authors.

After our brush with fame, we met up with hubby and JAM again, who had left so that JAM could get in line to meet an author he loves, Gordon Korman. While Red, Pudge and I enjoyed a book together, JAM got his own speechless moment with a famous writer.

After a lunch eaten on the steps of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, we split up again so that the older guys could go one way and we could go another, more preschool-y way. Red, Pudge and I ended up in the PBS Kids tent, where we happily found our good pal Steve of SteveSongs on stage! We settled down on the ground right in front of the stage, and I swear to you that Steve looked at us and had a moment of recognition. Let me have that, okay?

Soon enough, Steve was introducing someone who made us smile- Harry Bliss! The kids and I have been enjoying Bailey since I reviewed it last month, and suddenly there was the author/illustrator right in front of us. Rather than read or talk about his new book, he opted to play a cool game in which he invited a child up on the stage to make a doodle on a piece of big chart paper, which he then turned into a one-of-a-kind, wacky and awesome illustration. Guess who raised her hand enthusiastically, got called on, hopped up on stage, confidently said her name into the microphone and drew a jaunty squiggle on the paper? Yup, this was totally Red's day! (In related news, guess who somewhat reluctantly raised his hand, did not get called on, and cried when Red was the last one called? Fun times.)

Isn't that really terrific? Now we have an original Harry Bliss illustration, which he joked could be sold on ebay for probably twenty bucks. We're going to skip the cash payout and frame it for Red's bedroom instead.

After Harry Bliss's time was up, Steve came back on stage to introduce, via song of course, the next author appearing on stage. Lo and behold, it was Red's new BFF, Julianne Moore! She read her first book, Freckleface Strawberry to the crowd, and I was even more excited to witness that she is of the camp of authors who actually do know how to read a story aloud to a group of kids!

Soon, it was time for the one part of the day that was nonnegotiable for me, an author talk in the Children's Tent by a picture book author and illustrator who has delighted me for years and years. I anticipated that the crowd would be huge, and since Red and Pudge have very little tolerance for standing in a crowd to listen to some grown-up talk, even if that grown-up is one of the most prolific and wonderful and amazing authors who they love to read. So, hubby took the younger ones and JAM came with me to try to scope out a few seats for what was to be the highlight of my day.

Tomie dePaola.

What can I say? The crowds were enormous, and a seat was not in our destiny. But, I would stand for a long, long time to hear TdP speak, and he didn't fail to delight. I will shamelessly admit that my eyes welled up with tears as he took the stage, somewhat gingerly holding both handrails up the few steps. But then when he stood before the mike, his booming voice was just what I hoped for, and he soon had the entire crowd laughing as he taught us the PROPER way to blow three kisses, Italian style. I think Strega Nona would have been proud of us!

His talk was just so much fun, and I hope I remember to post the link to the videocast once the Library of Congress gets them uploaded to their site. I recorded part of it, but the view is terrible and my hand is a bit shaky from a mixture of excitement and exhaustion. Just before he finished his talk, I made JAM come over with me to where he would exit the pavilion to get into his awaiting golf cart, not so that I could ambush him, but I hoped to get a closer picture than I had of him on stage.

Not too shabby, huh?

Well, at this point, it was close to 4 pm, and since we had been there for about five hours, which involved skipping nap for two hot and tired kids, we hopped back on the Metro and came home, happy to have rubbed elbows with some authors and illustrators who make us happy. I was thrilled to have once again spent a day among my people, the folks who will show up rain, shine, heat, humidity, whatever, simply to be in the presence of authors and book people.

Ready for September 2012,

*********
For more musings on how I want my legacy to my children to be all about a love of reading, please read my related Patch column- Literary Indoctrination.

lyrically speaking

2011-10-07T21:55:00.001-04:00

"If I hide myself wherever I go, am I ever really there?"

Call me cheesy, but there's just always been something emotionally charged about music for me. Song lyrics fulfill a literary longing in me that other, more high-minded folks get from poetry or the classics, perhaps. I have been brought to tears by a lyric more times than I can count, and I'm not just talking about my adolescent years spent singing with the requisite melancholy into my hairbrush. Just tonight, as I basked in the glory of household chores, the above lyric came through my earbuds, a lyric I had heard many, many times before as it's in one of my favorite songs by my favorite former band of five Canadians. But suddenly, those familiar words sounded new, like a revelation, and the tears formed before I could even fully process my thoughts.

I feel like I've been doing a whole lot of hiding myself lately, both intentionally and not. Without putting the dirty details out there, suffice it to say that I'm not in a happy place right now, and I don't feel at all like myself. I feel stuck and unproductive, like I'm losing my voice, but it doesn't really matter because I can't think of anything to say anyway. But the reality is, as much as I hate the overused phrase, it is what it is. The circumstances are not going to change, and I'm going to have to face the fact that I must do what I've never been any good at doing- make the best of the situation.

But where does that leave me? Am I ever really there? I don't know how to find myself right now, and that is pretty damn disconcerting. The me who I want to be isn't able to come out and play all that often now, and the me who I have to be just doesn't feel like me anymore.

Change takes time, I know this, and even more so, I know that I'm simply terrible at dealing with change. Right now, all I can do is hope that this feeling fades, and that I can soon feel that I am truly here. My fear is that it's years away, and that is an awfully long time to stay in hiding.

With a high cheese factor and a big old dash of melodrama,

National Book Festival

2011-09-23T21:56:00.001-04:00

Yes, it's raining out there. It seems like it's been raining for practically EVER, and it will continue through the weekend. The off-and-on prediction is sounding more and more like on-and-on, but it's the final weekend in September, so rain or shine, book lovers from all over will descend upon Washington, D.C.

The Library of Congress is hosting the 11th annual National Book Festival, my favorite Saturday of the whole year!

But wait! There's more!

This year marks the first year the festival is being extended to two days!

Two days of this:

Tomie dePaola - Strega Nona, anyone? From that classic to any other from his amazing collection, dePaola is a master when it comes to children's literature. Just to breathe the same air as him will be magnificent.

Tom Lichtenheld - hilarious illustrator extraordinaire, and one of our favorite contemporary picture book artists. Seriously, have you seen Shark vs. Train? The humor on every single page gets me every single time I read it with the kids. Just look at the list of the books he's illustrated, and you'll see a major collection of books that are beloved by my children.

Brian Selznick - How much did you love The Invention of Hugo Cabret? Honestly, it was just groundbreaking and unique, this cool meshing of a film, a picture book and a novel, and the story was simply beautiful. Sadly, we don't own a copy of this incredible book, and I'm hoping to make a trip to the book sale tent to rectify this tomorrow.

Katherine Paterson - Three words: Bridge to Terabithia. Enough said.

I could go on and on, but you can look at the Author List yourself, and I guarantee that you'll find some names that you recognize and love.

Why don't you meet us at Target tomorrow morning to buy some rain coats and boots, then brave the rain all in the name of love. Love of books!

Ready for some Festival fun,

bus blogging, chapter two

2011-09-15T18:55:00.000-04:00

The bus was fifteen minutes late leaving the first pickup stop on campus tonight. As I explained to the children, when water falls from the sky, it appears that drivers forget how to operate their vehicles in an efficient manner. Fifteen minutes isn't that huge a deal, except that when the bus is supposed to leave at 6:05 pm, and doesn't leave until 6:20 instead, and you've got two children who are exhausted from a long day at school, and they are both freaking starving, and you know won't be home until well after 7 pm, instead of 6:30...

Ugh.

To top it all off, all I can think about, even in my restless dreams, is work. The classroom things that I still wish to clean and organize, the students who are delightful and/or challenging, and the wonder that is working in a supervisory position with college students.

We are incredibly lucky to have a large number of students who are employed at our university-based school as student aides. I know we are fortunate in this capacity, because for the most part, they are really wonderful, and they're invaluable for all the support they provide- from daily cleaning jobs in the classroom to the individualized attention they can give to children.

But, the tricky part for me is the fine line we must walk in our supervisory role. We must give guidance about how to interact with the children (more with some than others), and we must also be clear about our expectations for the work that is their responsibility. To this end, we create a welcome packet that we hand out to everyone, both new and returning aides, and we try to be quite explicit in it. We also meet with the new ones near the beginning of the semester, and we again highlight the key points for our individual classrooms. This is of course, in addition to the face to face directions and guidance we give during their first days in our rooms.

It can be challenging, though, when we find ourselves wondering why particular actions are being taken about which we've already specifically instructed otherwise. Back in the day, I didn't feel all that much older than some of our student aides, and it could be uncomfortable acting in this supervisory role. Now? Yeah, I'm an old lady and I know how I want my classroom run. I don't mind giving directions, but I don't want to sound condescending, and repeating myself is something I don't even care to do too many times with young children, let alone college-aged folks.

So, I find myself erring on the side of sounding strict and direct, but I hope that I still convey my respect and appreciation, for their assistance keeps me from spending an extra hour cleaning up the classroom at the end of each day. And with these long-ass bus rides in our lives now, that is a good thing.

Ready to be home already,

bus blogging, chapter one

2011-09-14T17:10:00.000-04:00

Yup, I'm on the bus. And yup, I've become the parent who has resorted to using electronic devices to keep my children from acting like complete and utter maniacs when we sit on the bus for 45-60 minutes each evening. Don't fret, the bus ride isn't supposed to be nearly that long, and I'm hopeful that the delays and crazy traffic are a side effect of the beginning of the academic semester. Perhaps when more folks stop going to class so diligently, the traffic will lighten up.

Every once in a while, the shuttle's free wi-fi actually has enough bandwidth left for me to hop on. Fortune is more likely on my side for this endeavor in the mornings than in the afternoon, but it's working, for now at least, while we ride home this evening.

What is there to say when blogging on a bus? I've already ranted and raved this week in my Patch article about the dog-eat-dog attitude about public transportation seating, so that's out. Thankfully, as of this moment, there are no fellow passengers who are in desperate need of an application of deodorant. (That is one of those situations in which you just can't stop a loud three-year-old from saying what comes to mind... "Someone stinks!" is lovely when shouted out on the bus by the child sitting next to you whom you're trying to pretend isn't yours...)

Tonight marks JAM's Back to School Night, in which we will hopefully be droned at in regard to school wide test scores for a shorter amount of time than in past years. We're finally the parents of the oldest kids in the school, and I'm shocked beyond belief by it. Not sure when that happened. It'll be nice to see some other parents in town who I've been disconnected from since my return to work, and we're trying out a new babysitter who I truly hope will want to come back again after tonight. At least again next week, when I get to be on the 'other side of the desk' for my school's Back to School Night!

So there you have it- a whole blog post about not much. But isn't it cool to know that it's coming to you directly from a bus seat?

(Can you tell that I'm really trying to embrace this whole new-life-thing?)

From the road,

all work and no blogging makes me a dull mama

2011-09-12T23:08:00.001-04:00

Forgive me, reader, for I have (bloggy) sinned. It's been eight days since my last (lame-o) post. I've wanted to blog, but with work, commuting, and the lack of Interwebs in our house for a full five loooooong days, let's just say that it didn't work out.

I've blogged in my head, though-- posts that conveyed the extreme emotions that have been swirling around. Perhaps it's best that those posts not be saved for posterity, since there would have been lots of cursing and a general extreme-opposite-of-merriment kind of tone.

Beyond the time and connectivity issues, I've struggled lately to find my voice. This isn't the forum to talk about my work experiences, yet that makes up the vast majority of my daily experiences. I'm not privy to the funny things that Red and Pudge say all day (and my Facebook statuses have suffered for that loss, as my online friends can attest to). Our family time has shrunk to the bare minimum, which is mostly comprised of the basics-- waking up, packing bags for the day, prepping meals, eating meals, cleaning up from meals, bathing and going to bed. Lather. Rinse. Freaking repeat.

Bah. I haven't had time to think a thought that isn't either work-related or woe-is-me, and I'm ashamed to continue to miss my former carefree lifestyle, what with our nation's unemployment rate so stinking high. But it all leaves very little to blog about.

Though I'm feeling dull, I have to admit that it's getting a wee bit easier each day. The biggest freak outs for me always revolve around changes, and it's inevitable that I feel a bit calmer once things begin to feel routine. Our alternating days schedule is seared into my brain now, and I can tell you down to the minute when we need to walk out of the house for each day of the week. A plethora of charts adorn my refrigerator, and even my non-list-making boys are willingly following along. One day at a time, right?

Now that the internet is once again coming through that series of tubes connected to my house, I'm hoping that the blog will get a little attention now and again. Maybe I'll even think of something original to say.

Penitently yours,

friday's five -- back to school edition

2011-09-09T07:55:00.000-04:00

Sadly, my picture book reading with Red and Pudge has taken a severe blow with my recent return to work. We still read every night before bed, of course, but that's about it, at least during the week.

However, since my work day consists of hanging with eighteen three and four year olds, picture books are still a HUGE part of my day. It's my plan for friday's five to continue to run, with a split focus on books I've read this week in the classroom, in addition to what the kids and I are reading at home.

This week, it was all about acclimating ourselves to classroom life, and these five picture books certainly helped set the stage for a great new school year.

1. Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney -- Oh, this book really hit home for me this week, with two children in my class missing their parents BIG time. I love the Llama Llama books for the realness of the tone. That little llama is the every-preschooler, if I've ever seen him, and these stories strongly resonate with young children for that very reason. If you have a toddler or a preschooler, these are books that simply need to be on your bookshelf at home.

2. If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond --Who doesn't already know the cookie-loving mouse? Well, in this adventure, he climbs into the boy's backpack and heads off to school. You gotta love his spirit as he explores the classroom, finding ways to participate in every subject and building one heck of a fabulous mouse house out of unit blocks. (And yes, I LOVE that they're actual unit blocks in the illustrations!) This is a sure-fire hit with young children every time.

3. I am NOT Going to School Today by Robie H. Harris and illustrated by Jan Ormerod -- Though the parent in me has to question the never-budging calm that the little boy's parents display in this story, the teacher in me appreciates the message given toward the child who's anxious to start school. "You don't know anything!" is his main worry. Thankfully, his stuffed pal offers some comfort, in a way that I see played out in real life on a regular basis.

4. Matthew A.B.C. by Peter Catalanotto -- Hands down, the funniest back-to-school story that I've ever read to a group. Serious big hit. Mrs. Tuttle has 25 students... and all of them are named Matthew. The ways in which she tells them apart all revolve around their, um, unique personality traits and quirks. Funny stuff. I recommend this one highly to any young reader, and the adults reading it will get some giggles, as well.

5. Bailey by Harry Bliss -- Our final back to school book brings a cute doggy to the classroom in the form of Bailey, a classmate to human elementary school students. Read my full review of Bailey over on 5 Minutes for Mom, where you can also enter to win a copy of the new book, along with a $25 Visa gift card!

Always up for a picture book, in the classroom or at home,

money and happiness, is there really a question here?

2011-09-04T21:03:00.001-04:00

We've all heard it before, money doesn't guarantee love or happiness, and in fact, if you Google the phrase "money can't buy happiness," you get over 4.5 million hits. Clearly, this is a much thought about topic.

In my opinion, the person who coined that phrase was either delusional, or so crazy, stinking rich, that he couldn't see beyond his own foolishness.

Perhaps it's less accurate to state it in this manner. Maybe it's better understood if we look from the opposite perspective: general happiness is hard to maintain when you're broke. Okay, okay, don't come at me with stats from the various sociological studies in recent years that have provided much evidence to the contrary, because really, this is harder to talk about in the macro sense, and much easier to focus on the micro.

If I had more money, I think I could be happier.

If I had more money, I could afford to buy a slightly larger house, within the school district lines for the elementary school I'd like my younger two children to attend. The children would have a little more space for a play area, most definitely increasing everyone's happiness significantly.

If I had more money, I wouldn't have to worry about paying the bills, causing a marked decrease in anxiety.

If I had more money, I could pursue my passions, putting my energy into projects that could allow me to grow in that direction.

If I had more money, I could have more time. Time for my family, time to focus on my relationship with my husband, time for the care of my home, time for me.

I can't imagine that I'm alone in these thoughts, as shallow or self-serving or selfish as they may be. Unfortunately, the pursuit for more money often ends up hindering the very things we think we could do if we had more money. No beating around the bush on this one, this is obviously stemming from my recent return to work, which hopefully will bring about some wishes for our family in the long term as a result of an added paycheck, yet also comes with a day-to-day reality that I'm finding quite difficult to come to terms with, just yet.

Money, money, money. For as much trouble as it can bring, I can't say I wouldn't mind stumbling upon my own little pot of gold right about now.

Wistfully yours,

enough about me

2011-08-30T17:29:00.004-04:00

With all the navel-gazing, tear-wiping, and generalized transitioning I've been focused on for the last week as I returned to work, there's another significant milestone that's being marked now, for I'm not the only one heading to school.

Pudge and Red next to a digitally twirled sign in front of their school.

Today will go down in family history as Pudge's first day of preschool and Red's first day of kindergarten! The tradition of the first and last day of school pictures has begun for child two and three, as it has been in play for child one since August 2003. JAM leaned against this sign six times for his photos, and now Red and Pudge get to star in their very own pics, too.

While I have the immensely great fortune to be able to see my children at times throughout their school day, I still am riding the emotional roller coaster that every parent boards when she puts that backpack on her child's seemingly tiny frame. They're leaving the sanctity (ha!) of the nest that is the home environment, and they're now off into the great big world to start living at least a part of their lives separate from us. From me.

The stay-at-home mom that I've been for four years is weeping inside. My babies. The early childhood educator in me that I'm now re-embracing couldn't be more pleased for the world that they are entering. The joys that await them in friendship, exploration, self-discovery, and learning are boundless, and I know in my heart that they will absolutely thrive in this environment.

But, as every mom who has watched her child board the school bus, or walked her child to the school, or even escorted her child into the kindergarten classroom knows-- this day is never easy, no matter how comfortable we are with the school. The first day of school is big time. And when it's upon you, there's no denying its emotional power.

Keeping the Kleenex close by,

balancing act

2011-08-29T21:01:00.000-04:00

I like projects. I like constructing lists, figuring out the most appropriate order for tasks, and diving head first into the process of getting things done. The only problem? I don't like to pause, to come up for air, to stop before the job is completed.

This may be why my family steers clear of me on big clean day each weekend.

I find my particular approach to tasks to be quite effective in its single-mindedness. In the end, stuff gets done. I may love to laze about with a book in hand and blanket on body, but I also enjoy working hard to get to the finish line. I don't mind manual labor, as long as I get to reap the rewards in the end. (Ah yes, my inner 50s housewife sighs with simple joy at the sight of a shiny, clean kitchen floor.)

The biggest downside to this tendency is when a project comes along that doesn't necessarily have a clear finish line. A project that will last a long, long time. A project that isn't truly a 'project' at all, but actually a new day-to-day experience.

Yes, I'm talking about my return to teaching, once again. (Blah, blah, blah. But it's really all I got going on right now. See above for explanation of my one-track mind.)

The week before eighteen three and four year olds enter the classroom for the first time is filled with meetings, CPR and first aid training, and a whole helluva lot of cleaning and set up. Of my school's six classrooms, this will be the fourth that I'm in, in this my tenth school year on staff. (Discounting my four year sabbatical, of course.) My co-teacher this year is also moving from a different classroom, so we had the joyful experience this past week of discovering this new-to-us room, in all its glory. It seriously wasn't too bad, but any level of disorganization is something to be fixed in my book, and there was definitely a good share of accumulated clutter to be tackled.

There's still a lot of tackling to be done. Hence my uneasiness, because right now, I'm having a lot of trouble balancing my nature to just keep barreling along, Energizer-bunny style, with the obvious need to leave the school at the end of the day to be with my family. I'm having trouble slipping from teacher-on-a-mission mode back into Mommy mode. When I'm supposed to be enjoying the few hours with my children and husband that I'm now going to be allotted each day, my mind is back in the classroom, thinking about cabinets that are not yet cleaned out, observation booth shelves that are in disarray, and items that loom on the to do list. I want to simply spend every possible minute in that space getting it to the finish line, so that my mind can once again rest easy.

But it just doesn't work that way.

There is no finish line when you're a teacher, for each day brings something new, and there's always something still to do. One would think I'd have learned this lesson from, oh, the last eleven years of parenthood, huh? Just like I can never sit back at the end of a day and say, "Ah, my job here is done," in relation to being a mom, I know I cannot expect this in regards to my once-again-employment.

Even though I know this, it's still so very, very hard not to feel the desire to just keep working on this classroom space in the beginning of the year, until it's just perfect. Until every little checkbox is marked off. This space will be my home-away-from-home for the next 9.5 months, and I simply want it to be the best it can be.

More importantly, though, I've got to relearn how to switch between roles more smoothly, leaving my classroom mind at my desk, and slipping right back into Mommy Mode at the end of the day.

Balance beams were never my forte, but I'm determined to stay upright and make it across to the other side.

Not looking down,

it's been...

2011-08-27T21:44:00.005-04:00

One week of gainful employment, once again pulling down a paycheck that will hopefully help to get us moving in the right direction for our family.

Five days of practice changing my response to the age old question, "What do you do?"

Three days since we got into our classroom to do the necessary sorting, organizing and set up before we can welcome our class.

Yesterday, I logged at least twelve hours of work, finishing with the placement of many, many picture books throughout the room, finally making it look like a place I can spend my days.

But it will still be two days 'til I'll officially (again) be a teacher.

Sitting back and enjoying the hurricane,

with sincere apologies to old school BNL fans everywhere...

three days in the life

2011-08-24T22:46:00.002-04:00

Day One:
The tears threatened at random times during the morning. They came out a bit in the bathroom. They were on the verge when the family came to pick me up at the end of the day. They were unavoidable as soon as we left the building.

Day Two:
The tears held off during the day. They even stayed away when the kids gave me huge hugs in the evening. They made their reappearance once we were home and the full force of a day without my previous routine hit me. They were harsh.

Day Three:
Quiet tear ducts all day long, and even into the evening. As I'm getting ready to tuck myself in, I feel them nearby, close to the surface, wanting to be shed for everything that used to be. As much as I want to indulge in them, to let them wash over me while I wish for what cannot be, I'm trying my best to keep them at bay.

I feel a bit like a recovering addict... one day at a time seems a good mantra. It's more fitting than I ever would have imagined for a former stay-at-home mom.

Tearfully (though less and less) yours,